Basal cell carcinoma
Contents
Background
- Most common skin malignancy
- Rarely a metastatic process
Risk Factors
- UV radiation
- Chronic arsenic exposure
- Ionizing radiation
- Immunosuppression
Clinical Features
- Slow growing
- Usually head and neck
- Only where hair follicles exist
- Pearly nodule with telangiectatic vessels, rolled border and central ulceration
Differential Diagnosis
Rash
- Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis
- Allergic reaction
- Aphthous stomatitis
- Atopic dermatitis
- Chickenpox
- Chikungunya
- Coxsackie
- Dermatitis herpetiformis
- Erysipelas
- Exfoliative erythroderma
- Impetigo
- Measles
- Miliaria (Heat Rash)
- Necrotizing fasciitis
- Pellagra
- Poison Oak, Ivy, Sumac
- Psoriasis
- Pityriasis rosea
- Scabies
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Serum Sickness
- Smallpox
- Shingles
- Tinea capitus
- Tinea corporis
- Vitiligo
Evaluation
- Clinical examination by trained clinician (dermatology referral)
- Skin biopsy