We studied 43 cases of reexcised skin where a diagnosis of "inadequately excised basal cell carcinoma" was made at the initial excision. Only 3 cases (7%) revealed microscopic residual tumor. Prior studies have shown a recurrence rate as high as 35% for "inadequately excised basal cell cancers." Possible reasons for relatively low incidence of residual tumor in the reexcised specimens are discussed.