Basal Cell Carcinoma
Conditions
Brief summary
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequent skin cancer in humans, primarily located in sun-exposed areas. The incidence of BCC increases with cumulative exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and is particularly high in the elderly population, with a reported peak around 80 years of age. The new EADO classification distinguishes BCCs as 'easy-to-treat' and 'difficult-to-treat', subdivided into stages I-IV, with the aim of guiding therapeutic choices. However, in clinical practice, there is marked variability among specialists in classification and treatment selection, with potential implications for clinical outcomes. This study aims to investigate inter-operator variability in both classification and therapeutic decisions for BCC. Specifically, it analyzes how specialists from different disciplines-dermatologists, oncologists, plastic surgeons, maxillofacial surgeons, and radiation therapists-and with varying clinical experience in BCC management approach the same clinical cases.
Interventions
Administration of three questionnaires to different groups of physicians to evaluate clinical staging and treatment decisions
Sponsors
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* adult patients ≥ 18 years, * histologically confirmed BCC, representing the full EADO spectrum (Stage IIA→ IIIC) and well-quality diagnostic image. * Inclusion criteria (physicians) * Licensed medical doctors practicing in one of the target specialties: Dermatology, Plastic Surgery, Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical Oncology, or Radiotherapy. * Currently involved in clinical management of BCC * Able to provide informed consent for participation. * Willing and able to complete the online questionnaire within the study timeframe. * Minimum clinical experience: ≥ 1 year after specialty certification
Exclusion criteria
for patients: * not diagnosed BCC cases * patients \<18 years
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Inter-operator variability in the BCC classification | 15 days | Assess the inter-operator variability in BCC classification (EADO staging system) for the treatment decisions |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The impact of the therapeutic choices | 15 days | Examine if patient-related factors such as age, comorbidities, tumor site, tumor dimension and comorbidities may impact on the therapeutic choices across different specialties. |
| Evaluation of answers between different specialists | 15 days | Evaluate how specialists in the same field with different clinical background (dermatologists, oncologists, maxillofacial surgeons, radiotherapists, plastic surgeons ) and experience (low defined as 1-10 years -moderate:10-20-high: \>20) on skin tumors answer the questionnaire |
Contacts
CONTACTAndrea Paradisi
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORAndrea Paradisi
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS
Outcome results
None listed