Dermoscopic Features of Basal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this study was to analyze the dermoscopic features in patients with pathohistologically confirmed basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Our retrospective study included 54 patients with 76 BCCs in total, diagnosed in 2016 and 2017. All lesions were classified into four clinical types: nodular, pigmented, superficial and infiltrative. Digital dermoscopic images were evaluated by three observers. We selected five dermoscopic features for analysis, including: the absence of pigment network, the presence of arborizing vessels, blue-gray globules and ovoid nests, leaf-like areas and ulcerations. In the total of 54 patients, there were 22 females and 32 males. At the moment of establishing the diagnosis, the patients’ age was in the range from 31 to 84 years (median age 67 years). The most frequent clinical type was the nodular type with 28 confirmed diagnoses. Nodular BCC was more frequently localized on the head and neck areas compared to the trunk and limbs (p < 0.01). Dermoscopically, the absence of pigmented network was verified in all cases. Arborizing vessels were present in 71 (93.4%) lesions, blue-gray globules and ovoid nests in 33 (42.1%), ulcerations in 44 (57.9%), and leaf-like areas in 5 (6.6%) lesions. Blue-gray globules and ovoid nests were significantly frequent in pigmented BCC in comparison to other clinical types of BCC (p < 0.01). In conclusion, using dermoscopy, it is entirely possible to make a reliable diagnosis of BCC as well as to differentiate it from others skin tumors.

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