Older Adults Experience Low Surgical Treatment Burden and Complications With Basal Cell Carcinoma

Older adults who are surgically treated for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in the head and neck area experience low surgical treatment burden and complications, according to a recent study published in Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

“To optimize individualized medical decision-making, this study aimed to evaluate the treatment burden in older adults who were surgically treated for BCC in the head and neck area,” wrote the study authors.

Researchers extracted data from the prospective multicenter BATOA (BAsal cell carcinoma Treatment in Older Adults) cohort study to evaluate treatment burden, treatment outcomes, and mortality.

The 539 patients studied experienced a low treatment burden and good cosmetic result. Frailty-related factors were associated with increased treatment burden and included instrumental activities of daily living dependency, female sex, complications, tumor diameter, and polypharmacy. Age was not associated with any outcome.

“BCC management decisions based on chronological age alone should be avoided, whereas more attention is recommended for patient-related factors,” concluded the study authors. “Based on these data, early BCC intervention is beneficiary for robust and fit patients or those experiencing symptoms,” they added.

Reference
van Winden MEC, Bronkhorst EM, Visch MB, et al. Predictors of surgical treatment burden, outcomes and overall survival in older adults with basal cell carcinoma: results from the prospective, multicenter BATOA cohort. J Am Acad Dermatol. Published online May 31, 2021. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2021.05.041