Introduction. Recently an increase in the number of case of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in facial skin has been noted. BCC treatment constitutes a significant share of the work and procedures in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Although BCC is a locally malignant tumour, its growth may lead to a considerable reduction of neighbouring tissue, which may hinder a satisfactory post‑surgery aesthetic effect. Aim. The aim of this study is to analyse the frequency of occurrence of the basal cell carcinoma of facial skin depending on the location of the tumour and patients’ gender and age. The study covered 259 subjects treated because of the BCC between 2006–2015 in an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. Biopsy constituted the basis for the diagnosis in each case. Material and Methods. The sample included 139 women and 120 men, the average age of the subjects was 72. The group aged between 70–79 was most numerous, while the patients in their 30s and 40s were the least well represented age group. Results. BCC was mostly located on the nasal skin, the least common location was the scalp skin. 12.5% of the patients displayed the multifocal type of BCC, while 5% of the analysed subjects suffered a recurrence. Nose skin was the most frequent location of the recurrence. Conclusions. The study confirmed that the risk of BCC increases with the patients’ age. Moreover, a steady rise in the numbers of the affected subjects has been noted. Finally, the location of the tumour was correlated with recurrence risks.

Key words: basal cell carcinoma, location, age, recurrence.