| Basal-cell carcinoma | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Basal-cell skin cancer, basal cell epithelioma, basalioma[1] |
 | |
| Ulcerated basal-cell carcinoma affecting the skin of the nose in an elderly individual | |
| Specialty | Dermatology, oncology |
| Symptoms | Painless raised area of skin that may be shiny with small blood vessel running over it or ulceration, rolled edge[2] |
| Usual onset | Adults |
| Types | Nodular, cystic, morpheaform, others[1] |
| Risk factors | Light skin, ultraviolet light, radiation therapy, arsenic, poor immune function[1] |
| Diagnostic method | By its appearance, skin biopsy[2] |
| Differential diagnosis | Trichoepithelioma,[1] squamous cell carcinoma, seborrheic keratosis, melanoma, psoriasis, sebaceous hyperplasia[2] |
| Treatment | Surgical removal, photodynamic therapy, radiation treatment[2] |
| Prognosis | Depends on type, mostly good, may recur[1] |
| Frequency | ~30% of white people at some point (US)[3] males>females[1] |
| Deaths | Rare[1] |
Basal-cell carcinoma (BCC), also known as basal-cell cancer, is a type of skin cancer.[1] The classic appearance is a painless small raised bump in the skin, which may be shiny with overlying small blood vessels, and have a central dip or ulcer, crusting, or blood.[2] Larger ones may have a rolled edge.[2] Other patterns may include blue-grey fluid-filled small bumps, white plaques, or dry scaly marks.[2] There are generally no symptoms; though if scratched, they may bleed.[2] It tends to grow slowly, damage surrounding tissue, but is unlikely to spread to distant areas or result in death.[4]
Risk factors include exposure to ultraviolet light, having lighter skin, radiation therapy, long-term exposure to arsenic and poor immune-system function.[1] The use of tanning beds and exposure to UV light during childhood is particularly harmful.[1] It is believed to originate from a type of cell associated with the hair follicle.[1] Diagnosis is by its appearance and confirmed by tissue biopsy.[2]
It remains unclear whether sunscreen affects the risk of basal-cell cancer.[2] Treatment is typically by surgical removal.[2] This can be by simple excision if the cancer is small; otherwise, Mohs surgery is generally recommended.[3] Other options include electrodesiccation and curettage, cryosurgery, topical chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, laser surgery or the use of imiquimod, a topical immune-activating medication.[5] In the rare cases in which distant spread has occurred, chemotherapy or targeted therapy may be used.[5]
Basal-cell cancer is the most common type of skin cancer and the most common cancer overall.[1] It accounts for at least 32% of all cancers globally.[6][7] Of skin cancers other than melanoma, about 80% are basal-cell cancers.[3] It occurs most frequently in Australia, where 50% of people develop BCC before the age of 70.[1] In the United States, about 35% of white males and 25% of white females are affected by BCC at some point in their lives.[3]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m DE, Elder; D, Massi; RA, Scolyer; R, Willemze (2018). "Basal cell carcinoma". WHO Classification of Skin Tumours. Vol. 11 (4th ed.). Lyon (France): World Health Organization. pp. 26–34. ISBN 978-92-832-2440-2. Archived from the original on 2022-07-11. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k James, William D.; Elston, Dirk; Treat, James R.; Rosenbach, Misha A.; Neuhaus, Isaac (2020). "29. Epidermal nevi, neoplasms, and cysts". Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology (13th ed.). Edinburgh: Elsevier. pp. 648–651. ISBN 978-0-323-54753-6. Archived from the original on 2023-06-30. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
- ^ a b c d Gandhi SA, Kampp J (November 2015). "Skin Cancer Epidemiology, Detection, and Management". The Medical Clinics of North America. 99 (6): 1323–35. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2015.06.002. PMID 26476255.
- ^ "Skin Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)". NCI. 11 February 2022. Archived from the original on 5 July 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
- ^ a b "Skin Cancer Treatment". National Cancer Institute. 21 June 2017. Archived from the original on 4 July 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
- ^ Cakir BÖ, Adamson P, Cingi C (November 2012). "Epidemiology and economic burden of nonmelanoma skin cancer". Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America. 20 (4): 419–22. doi:10.1016/j.fsc.2012.07.004. PMID 23084294.
- ^ Dubas LE, Ingraffea A (February 2013). "Nonmelanoma skin cancer". Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America. 21 (1): 43–53. doi:10.1016/j.fsc.2012.10.003. PMID 23369588.