Clinicomorphologic Spectrum of Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Series of Twelve Cases

Basal cell carcinoma is a non-melanocytic skin cancer that arises from basal cells. It is the most common skin malignancy in the developed world, while in India it is second to squamous cell carcinoma. Neglected tumors can continue to grow and lead to significant local destruction and disfigurement. Therefore, early diagnosis is essential. Here, is presented a series of twelve cases of basal cell carcinoma showing a spectrum of clinical presentation, including age, gender, and site of occurrence. Also, the varying patterns on microscopic examination are discussed. Prevalence in older age group was noted. The most common site was observed to be head and neck region. However, in contrast to previous studies, a female preponderance was observed. Different morphological types such as undifferentiated, pigmented, and spindle-cell variants were seen. It is important to differentiate basal cell carcinoma from other skin tumors and also type the tumors as the prognosis and risk of recurrence depends on subtype