[Basaliomas with invasion of bone: problems and prognosis].

The cure rate for basal cell carcinomas with the appropriate surgical management is excellent. However, when bony involvement is present the prognosis is adversely effected. Only 0.5% of orofacial basal cell carcinomas in our series had bony involvement. These 12 cases were analysed for recurrence rate. This revealed rates from 60% with primary tumours to 90% for recurrences. According to Kaplan-Meier the expected recurrence rate within 10 years is about 90%. Surprisingly the crucial factor mitigating against a cure is the presence of tumour bony infiltration, rather than the demonstration of tumour at the resection margins.