Abstract
Background: Basal cell carcinomas or rodent ulcers are commonly seen in the tear zone of the face. It rarely mimics melanomas when pigmented. Aim: We review literature of this uncommon condition and discuss the therapeutic modalities. Case Report: An elderly lady sought attention for a pigmented lesion on her forehead. The case is presented because pigmented lesions and verrucous appearing lesions can also be due to basal cell carcinoma. Typically basal cell carcinoma appears in the tear zone of the face and it mostly affects sun exposed areas. Conclusion: While surgery remains the gold standard in treatment, other modalities can be offered in areas where vital structures cannot be sacrificed and in recurrent lesions.
Highlights
This non-melanocytic skin cancer comprising of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common form of skin cancer
Clinicians must be aware of the variants of BCC to avoid errors in diagnosis and management
The histology report confirmed the diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma
Summary
This non-melanocytic skin cancer comprising of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common form of skin cancer. It arises from the basal cells present in the lower layer of the epidermis. BCC is the most common over photo exposed areas of skin in direct proportion to the number of pilosebaceous units present in that area. It is a slow growing tumour that rarely metastasizes but can cause extensive destruction of the surrounding tissue and bone, referred to as ulcus rodens. Clinicians must be aware of the variants of BCC to avoid errors in diagnosis and management
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