TY - JOUR
T1 - Superficial basal cell carcinoma, think deeper
T2 - Step sectioning of skin biopsy specimens yields 14% more aggressive subtypes
AU - El Sharouni, Mary-Ann
AU - van Diest, Paul J
AU - Blokx, Willeke A M
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 El Sharouni et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
PY - 2022/1
Y1 - 2022/1
N2 - INTRODUCTION: Because of different therapeutic regimens for superficial and non-superficial basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), accurate histopathological examination of a punch biopsy to determine its subtype is essential. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the additional yield of a more extensive step-section method to that of a standard histologic examination at 4 levels.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data for this prospective study was obtained from the Pathology department of a Dutch tertiary hospital. Biopsy specimens of subsequent patients from March 2019 to June 2020 were sectioned to 8-levels instead of the regular 4-levels. Only patients with a superficial BCC subtype in the first 4-levels of sectioning were included (n = 100). After 8-level sectioning, it was recorded in which level (5-8) a more aggressive BCC component was found (i.e. nodular, infiltrative, or micronodular). Patients were followed-up to evaluate further treatment, and in case of excision, the excision specimen was reviewed to determine the BCC subtype. A logistic regression was performed to assess characteristics associated with a more aggressive BCC component in levels 5-8.RESULTS: In 14 patients (14%) a more aggressive component was found in levels 5-8, all with a nodular component. Thirteen of these patients underwent excision, confirming a more aggressive BCC subtype. Of the 86 patients that had no deeper BCC component in levels 5-8, 26 (30.2%) underwent excision; In 4 patients no residual BCC was found, in 15 patients superficial BCC, and in 7 a more aggressive BCC subtype (1 nodular and 6 a combination of superficial/nodular/infiltrative). In multivariable analysis, head&neck localization was associated with finding a more aggressive BCC subtype in levels 5-8 (OR 6.41 (95%CI 1.56-26.30), p = 0.01)).CONCLUSIONS: More extensive sectioning of superficial BCC biopsy specimens, especially in the head&neck area, leads to a more accurate BCC subtype diagnosis requiring different clinical management strategies.
AB - INTRODUCTION: Because of different therapeutic regimens for superficial and non-superficial basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), accurate histopathological examination of a punch biopsy to determine its subtype is essential. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the additional yield of a more extensive step-section method to that of a standard histologic examination at 4 levels.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data for this prospective study was obtained from the Pathology department of a Dutch tertiary hospital. Biopsy specimens of subsequent patients from March 2019 to June 2020 were sectioned to 8-levels instead of the regular 4-levels. Only patients with a superficial BCC subtype in the first 4-levels of sectioning were included (n = 100). After 8-level sectioning, it was recorded in which level (5-8) a more aggressive BCC component was found (i.e. nodular, infiltrative, or micronodular). Patients were followed-up to evaluate further treatment, and in case of excision, the excision specimen was reviewed to determine the BCC subtype. A logistic regression was performed to assess characteristics associated with a more aggressive BCC component in levels 5-8.RESULTS: In 14 patients (14%) a more aggressive component was found in levels 5-8, all with a nodular component. Thirteen of these patients underwent excision, confirming a more aggressive BCC subtype. Of the 86 patients that had no deeper BCC component in levels 5-8, 26 (30.2%) underwent excision; In 4 patients no residual BCC was found, in 15 patients superficial BCC, and in 7 a more aggressive BCC subtype (1 nodular and 6 a combination of superficial/nodular/infiltrative). In multivariable analysis, head&neck localization was associated with finding a more aggressive BCC subtype in levels 5-8 (OR 6.41 (95%CI 1.56-26.30), p = 0.01)).CONCLUSIONS: More extensive sectioning of superficial BCC biopsy specimens, especially in the head&neck area, leads to a more accurate BCC subtype diagnosis requiring different clinical management strategies.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85123305667&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0256149
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0256149
M3 - Article
C2 - 35051169
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 17
JO - PLoS ONE
JF - PLoS ONE
IS - 1
M1 - e0256149
ER -