Non-melanoma skin tumors: a retrospective study of the epidemiological profile and outcome from compromised margins
Tumores de pele não melanoma: estudo retrospectivo do perfil epidemiológico e desfecho a partir de margens comprometidas

INTRODUCTION

Non-melanoma skin carcinomas (NMSC) are responsible for 30% of malignant tumors registered in Brazil¹. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common subtype, accounting for 70% to 80% of cases. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most prevalent subtype and has a more aggressive behavior when compared to BCC², ³.

Lesions arise preferably in segments with greater exposure to solar radiation, such as the head, neck, trunk and upper limbs. Phototype, family history, immunosuppression and exposure to chemicals and radiotherapy are risk factors for the development of these tumors, which demonstrates their multifactorial etiology resulting from genetic alterations, environmental factors and lifestyle⁴.

The ideal treatment for NMSC consists of surgical excision with free margins. Cases with compromised margins are associated with greater morbidity and may require additional management, such as margin expansion or radiotherapy, depending on the characteristics of the lesion and the individual⁵.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate the management of the anatomopathological finding of compromised margins, in addition to describing the epidemiological profile of patients undergoing surgical excision of NMSC in the surgery service of Hospital Municipal São José de Joinville - SC.

METHODS

RESULTS

We analyzed 2457 non-melanoma skin tumors submitted to surgical excision between January 2015 and December 2019, resulting in a sample of 1459 patients. Among the patients, there was a slight predominance of males (52.4%) and a prevalence of white color/ethnicity (99.5%). Regarding age, 70% were over 61, predominating the age group from 61 to 75 (41.1%) (Table 1).

Basal cell carcinoma was more prevalent, with 75.0% of cases (n=1845), followed by squamous cell carcinoma, with 23.7% (n=582), and basal squamous carcinoma, with 1.2% (n=582) (n=30).

The face was the most affected location (62%, n=1525), followed by the upper limbs (13.3%, n=328), accounting for more than 75% of the lesions (Figure 1).

When analyzing the distribution of the histological type by age group, as shown in Figure 2, it is possible to see that basal cell carcinoma was the most common subtype in all age groups up to 90 years. Only between 91-105 years of age did squamous cell carcinoma present a higher prevalence.

The anatomopathological study showed free surgical margins in 84.2% of the cases. In the analysis of surgical margins by age group, it can be seen that there was a higher percentage of free margins among individuals aged 18 to 30 years (90%) and a lower proportion among those aged 91 to 105 years (75.8%) (Table 2).

When analyzing the surgical margins between the two main histological types, a greater number of free margins is identified in basal cell carcinoma (85.6%) compared to squamous cell carcinoma (80%).

Relating compromised margins and the location of the lesion, we noticed that the site with the highest incidence was the face (19.7%), followed by the lower limbs (13.6%), with the chest being the site with the lowest incidence (5%). (Figure 3).

Regarding the conduct adopted after evidence of compromised margins, observation was chosen in 21.8% of the cases, and in 74.6%, a new intervention was indicated. There was a loss to follow-up in 3.5% of patients with compromised margins. When these patients are not counted, we have a rate of 77.3% of intervention and 22.7% of observation. Individuals with basal cell carcinoma were the ones who underwent intervention the most (79.4%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (65.5%) (Table 3).

Figure 4 analyzes only the observational versus interventional conduct at different ages. From the age of 46, there is a decrease in intervention rates, with an increase in observation rates, and among individuals aged 18 to 30 years, there is a 100% intervention rate. The oldest, between 91 and 105 years, had the highest percentage of observation among age groups (42.9%).

The main interventions performed were widening the margins (55.6%) and radiotherapy (42.4%). Analyzing the interventions by age group, it appears that widening the margins was the intervention of choice for most individuals in almost all age groups, except between 76 and 90 years, in which radiotherapy was more prevalent (Table 4).

When relating the conduct in the face of the finding of compromised margins according to the location of the lesion, we observed that the option to intervene was always more prevalent. In the case of abdominal injuries, this option occurred in 100% of the cases (Figure 5).

The most prevalent type of intervention in the abdomen, back, neck and limbs was margin enlargement, while the face and scalp showed similar rates between enlargement and radiotherapy. The chest was the only topography where radiotherapy was the most frequent intervention (Figure 6).

Of the 161 patients who underwent a new surgical approach to widen the margins, it was possible to analyze the anatomopathological results of 157, with 49.7% of these individuals having a tumor-free sample and 38.2% free margins and 12.1% with compromised margins. Of the latter who maintained compromised margins, 47.4% were kept under observation, 36.8% were referred for radiotherapy, 10.5% were indicated for further enlargement, and 5.3% were lost to follow-up.

Pearson’s chi-square test was performed to identify whether there was a statistically relevant relationship between the variables of age, surgical margins, management and the histological type of the neoplasm. It was found that age above 61 years is related to the histological type of squamous cells (p<0.05), with a relative risk (RR) of 1.572 (95%CI: 1.316-1.878; p<0.0001), but not with the presence of compromised margins (p=0.4). Squamous cell carcinoma is more related to the presence of compromised margins (p<0.05), with a relative risk of 1.382 (95%CI: 1.135-1.683; p=0.0013). The choice between intervention or observation was related to the histological type (p<0.05), but it was not possible to affirm its relationship with the age group (p>0.05).

DISCUSSION

Non-melanoma skin carcinomas are considered a public health problem in Brazil due to their high prevalence and incidence. The South region has the highest number of cases due to the predominance of Fitzpatrick skin phototypes I, II and III, which are more vulnerable to sun exposure⁶, ⁷. In the present study, this fact was confirmed due to the majority presence of these phototypes, corresponding to 99.5% of the patients in the evaluated sample.

We observed a higher prevalence of BCC (75%) concerning SCC (23.7%), which agrees with the literature², ⁸. Unlike the distribution between sexes, in which most studies present it as more prevalent in women, in our study, it was more prevalent in males (52.4%)³, ⁷, ⁹. We hypothesize that men in this region have greater exposure to UV rays, mainly rural workers since this is the main risk factor for developing NMSC³, ⁴, ⁷, ⁹. This risk factor is also related to the lesions located mainly in photoexposed areas³, ⁷. This study proved that to be true, with more than 75% of injuries to the face (62.0%) and upper limbs (13.3%).

Regarding the age group with the highest overall prevalence of CNPM, our study revealed a predominance of the number of cases between the sixth and seventh decades of life⁸. In this group, there was also a higher incidence of SCC, and in the age group of 91-105 years, the incidence of SCC surpassed that of BCC. Overall, our study showed that the population aged 61 years and over is 57.2% (RR=1.572 (95% CI: 1.316-1.878; p<0.0001)) more likely to develop SCC than younger individuals. This can be explained by the fact that the main risk factor for the development of SCC is cumulative sun exposure, which is proportional to the age of the individual⁷.

When evaluating free and compromised margins after surgical excision of the lesions, 84.2% of the samples in our study resulted in free margins without the need for additional management. In 15.8% of the cases, the margins were compromised. These results were similar to those found in other studies³, ¹⁰, ¹¹. The highest rate of compromised margins was in the age group from 91 to 105 years old. We believe the higher incidence of SCC can explain this in this population. Studies by Gutjahr et al.¹⁰ and Quintas & Coutinho¹¹ point to greater invasiveness of the SCC when compared to the SCC as a factor that leads to higher rates of compromised margins. This was also clear in our study, in which the relative risk of SCC with compromised margins was RR=1.382 (95% CI: 1.135¬1.683; p=0.0013), that is, 38.2% more than the probability that the CBC.

Regarding the conduct performed after evidence of compromised margins, 74.6% of the studied sample had a new approach, among which the expansion of margins (55.6%) and referral to radiotherapy (42.4%) were the main, which goes against the results of the study by Fidelis et al.5, in which clinical follow-up was the therapy of choice in 60.8% of the cases. Enlargement was the preferred approach for patients aged 18-30, performed in 100% of those with compromised margins. This rate was lower in patients aged 91-105 years, with only 62.5% of them undergoing enlargement. In those patients aged 76-90 years, radiotherapy was the most indicated therapy, reaching 51.4% of the population.

The observational approach was adopted in 21.8% of the sample, which was also seen in other studies, such as those by Fidelis et al.⁵ and Ocanha et al.¹². The expectant management adopted in our service could be explained by increasing the age of the patients, as evidenced by Fidelis et al.⁵, in which elderly patients make clinical follow-up acceptable in cases of compromised surgical margins. Despite this, our study showed that the choice of conduct in the population evaluated was not related to age (p=1.177) or the histological type of tumor (p=0.285).

When evaluating the intervention chosen due to compromised margins according to the location of the lesion, we observed that the face and scalp were the locations where radiotherapy and surgical enlargement had similar rates (52.2% x 45.7% and 50% x 50%). The chest was the only location where radiotherapy was more indicated (66.7%); in the others, surgical excision was preferred (66.7% - 100%). In this study, it was possible to assess that lesions on the face had a high intervention rate (77.1%), which can be explained by the higher photoexposure and high risk of recurrence. Concern about the possible growth of the lesion and greater difficulty for future resections and reconstructions may explain the higher rates of intervention on the face³, ⁵, ⁷, ⁸, ¹².

CONCLUSION

With the present study, data were found that allow a better understanding of the profile of patients with NMSC, as well as the percentage of compromised margins after initial surgical excision and the measures taken based on the histopathological result. The location of the lesion and the histological type are relevant factors in defining the subsequent treatment; however, more studies are needed to elucidate the risk factors related to the presence of compromised margins.