[Cutaneous carcinoma of the face. Clinical and histopathological forms. Retrospective study of 308 cases].

UNLABELLED: Cutaneous carcinomas are the most frequent malignant tumors, the majority of them being located on the face, scalp and back.

AIM: To assess the clinical presentation and pathology aspects of the patients with face skin carcinomas admitted to our clinic.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The retrospective study was carried out on a series of 308 patients diagnosed and treated for cutaneous carcinoma of the face in the Department of Oral and Facial Surgery of lasi over a period of 5 years (January 2006 - December 2010). The following parameters were analyzed: demographic data, size and location of the tumor, clinical presentation, and pathology aspects.

RESULTS: Basal cell carcinoma accounted for 75.97% of the cases, the nodular, superficial and morphea types being the most common. As to the microscopic aspects, the nodular/solid, superficial, and basosquamous (metatypical) types were the most frequent. The squamous-cell carcinoma represented 18.18%, mainly in the ulcero-vegetant and nodular forms. The moderately and well differentiated forms prevailed. Carcinomas of the skin adnexes as well as Merkel cell carcinomas were the most rare (4.22% and 0.65%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: The face is the most common location of the cutaneous carcinomas requiring early diagnosis and treatment as a key factor to favorable long term outcome.