Superficial basal cell carcinoma: clinical, epidemiological, dermoscopic, and anatomopathological correlation

Abstract

Introduction: Basal cell carcinoma is the most common non-melanoma malignancy in humans. Its superficial variant has specificities that can represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Objective: To describe the epidemiological profile of patients with superficial basal cell carcinoma (SBCC) treated at a reference service and to correlate, statistically, clinical, dermoscopic, and anatomopathological characteristics. Methods: Observational, analytical, cross-sectional study conducted by collecting data from patients with suspected SBCC between November 2019 and October 2020. Results: In total, we confirmed 25 lesions as SBCC. They were more frequent in women, in the head and neck, and with a diameter of less than 1 cm. We also observed, in clinical characteristics, a predominance of individuals over 60 years old and with phototypes II and III. The anatomopathological examination observed some pigmentation in the lesions evaluated and a predominance of intra-epidermal keratinocytes in lesions with maple leaf-like areas in dermoscopy. Conclusions: SBCC can present clinically as a pigmented lesion, affecting more the head and neck regions. Lighter skin phototypes are more likely to have SBCC with pigmented dermoscopic structures. Intra-epidermal keratinocytes possibly correlate with the formation of maple leaf structures.

Keywords

• basal cell carcinoma
• dermoscopy
• epidemiology
• skin neoplasms
• pathology