9th July 2023

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

The most common form of skin cancer which generally has a good prognosis due to its slow local invasion and infrequent metastasis. Risk factors include prolonged and cumulative UV exposure on sun-exposed sites, fair skin, and previous solar damage such as AKs. Biopsy confirms the histological subtype and informs management. Nodular BCC is the most common. Most BCCs are treated surgically, such as by excision, Mohs micrographic surgery (lesions that are high risk, recurrent or if sited on areas of cosmetic concern), curettage and cautery, and cryotherapy. Non-surgical treatments include topical creams such as 5-FU (cytotoxic agent) and Imiquimod (immunomodulating agent), PDT and radiotherapy.

Table 1: Three different types of BCCs with associated descriptions and treatment options.

Nodular BCC with overlying telangiectasia sited on the nasolabial fold.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons (2017). Basal-cell Carcinoma, Licensed under a creative commons licence. Available for free at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Basal-cell_Carcinoma.jpg (Accessed on: 3 November 2021).