Surgical decision making for basal-cell carcinoma of the face

Abstract

Some manuscripts are like seasoning, contributing flavourful pieces of information that add to the scope of medical knowledge. Others are like full-course meals, which have the potential to transform practice. We are largely starved of good evidence on which to base treatment decisions for basal-cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common human malignant disease. In this issue of The Lancet Oncology, a prospective randomised controlled 5-year trial of standard excision versus Mohs' micrographic surgery (MMS) for the treatment of primary BCC (pBCC) and recurrent BCC (rBCC) of the face provides the first course of evidence we need.