Question | Answer |
What are the Clinical Features of Basal Cell Carcinoma? | BCC is a neoplasm of basal keratinocytes. It is a dermal lesion that commonly presents as an ulceration with raised, rolled borders. There will often be fine, telangiectatic blood vessels on the surface of the lesion. |
What is the Demographic for Basal Cell Carcinoma? | BCC is the most common skin cancer and the most common cancer of all cancers. There is no gender predilection but it is more common in white adults. Age at which diagnosis occurs most often is after 40 years of age. 80% of BCC cases are in the HN region. |
What are the Microscopic Features of Basal Cell Carcinoma? | There is an altered SSE displaying invasive islands and strands of uniform ovoid, dark-stained basaloid cells with moderate-sized nuclei and relatively little cytoplasm. There is stromal retraction present and the neoplasm arises from the basal layer. |
What is the Differential Diagnosis for Basal Cell Carcinoma? | The Differential Diagnosis for BCC are Merkel Cell Carcinoma, Microcystic adnexal carcinoma, and Amelanotic melanoma. |
What is the Treatment for Basal Cell Carcinoma? | The treatment depends on the size and the location of the lesion. If smaller than 1cm, surgical excision with 3-5mm of clear margins is indicated. For larger lesions, MOHS surgery is the best choice. |
What are the Risk Factors for Basal Cell Carcinoma? | The risk factors for BCC in general include light skin phototype, sun exposure, radiation, advanced age, immunosuppression, and a personal history of non-melanoma skin cancer. |
What are the Hereditary Conditions associated with Basal Cell Carcinoma? | The hereditary conditions associated include albinism, xeroderma pigmentosum, nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, Rasmussen syndrome, Rombo syndrome, Bazex-Dupre-Christol syndrome, and Darier disease. |
What is MOHS surgery? | This is a procedure where one takes marginal sections during surgery which are then examined under a microscope until clean margins are obtained. This surgery is the best choice for large BCC lesions. |