Basal Cell Carcinoma Questions & Answers

Updated: Feb 14, 2022
  • Author: Robert S Bader, MD; Chief Editor: Mark S Granick, MD, FACS  more...
  • Print
Questions & Answers

Overview

What is basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What are the signs and symptoms of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

Where is basal cell carcinoma (BCC) most commonly located?

What are the clinicopathologic types of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of imaging studies in the diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

How is a diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) confirmed?

Which histology findings are characteristic of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

Which surgery techniques are performed in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of radiation therapy in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of topical agents in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

Which medications are FDA approved for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What are the most common sites for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) lesions?

How is the diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) confirmed?

What is the recommended treatment for basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What are the treatment options for superficial basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the pathophysiology of basal cell carcinoma?

What is the role of the patched/hedgehog signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of radiation in the pathogenesis of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of DNA mismatch repair (MMR) proteins in the pathogenesis of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What causes of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of radiation exposure in the etiology of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of genetics in the etiology of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of arsenic ingestion to the etiology of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

How much does immunosuppression increase the risk for basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of xeroderma pigmentosum in the etiology of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome?

What are the features of Bazex syndrome?

What is the risk for development of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in patients with a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer?

Which skin types are at higher risk for basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is Rombo syndrome?

What is the link between alcohol consumption and the development of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) in the etiology of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the prevalence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in the US?

What is the racial predilection of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

How does the incidence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) vary by sex?

How does the incidence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) vary by age?

What is the prognosis of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the rate of recurrence for basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What are signs of recurrence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is included in patient education about basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of sunscreen in the prevention of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

How should patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) be taught to perform self-exam for skin changes?

Presentation

What is the clinical history characteristic of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

How are nodular basal cell carcinoma characterized?

How is superficial basal cell carcinoma characterized?

How are basal cell carcinoma tumors characterized?

What are the most common sites for basal cell carcinoma?

Which physical findings are characteristic of basal cell carcinoma?

What are the clinicopathologic types of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

How are pigmented basal cell carcinoma characterized?

How is infiltrative basal cell carcinoma characterized?

How is micronodular basal cell carcinoma characterized?

How is morpheaform (sclerosing) basal cell carcinoma characterized?

Which physical findings are characteristic of basal cell nevus syndrome (Gorlin syndrome)?

What are the types of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

DDX

What are diagnostic considerations in basal cell carcinoma?

Which conditions should be included in the differential diagnoses of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What are the differential diagnoses for Basal Cell Carcinoma?

Workup

What studies are included in the workup of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of skin biopsy in the workup of basal cell carcinoma?

What is the role of cytology in the workup of basal cell carcinoma?

Which histologic findings are characteristic of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

Which histologic findings are characteristic of nodular basal cell carcinoma?

Which histologic findings are characteristic of micronodular basal cell carcinoma?

Which histologic findings are characteristic of pigmented basal cell carcinoma?

Which histologic findings are characteristic of adenoid basal cell carcinoma?

Which histologic findings are characteristic of morpheaform (sclerosing) basal cell carcinoma?

Which histologic findings are characteristic of infiltrative basal cell carcinoma?

Which histologic findings are characteristic of cystic basal cell carcinoma?

Which histologic findings are characteristic of superficial basal cell carcinoma?

Which histologic findings are characteristic of keratotic basal cell carcinoma?

Which histologic findings are characteristic of infundibulocystic basal cell carcinoma?

Which histologic findings are characteristic of metatypical basal cell carcinoma?

Which histologic findings are characteristic of basosquamous basal cell carcinoma?

Which histologic findings are characteristic of fibroepithelioma basal cell carcinoma?

What is the role of ultrasonography in the workup of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of laser Doppler perfusion imaging in the workup of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

How is basal cell carcinoma staged?

What are types of high-risk basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

Treatment

What are the treatment options for basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

When are topical therapies indicated in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of Mohs micrographic surgery in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

When is radiation therapy indicated in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of Hedgehog (Hh) pathway inhibitors in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What are the surgical options for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of topical creams in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of topical 5-fluorouracil 5% cream in the management of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of interferon in the management of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of imiquimod in the management of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of tazarotene in the management of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of radiation therapy for the management of basal cell carcinoma?

What are the contraindications for radiation therapy to treat basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the management of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

When is photodynamic therapy (PDT) indicated in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment for basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of retinoids in the management of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of vismodegib in the management of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of sonidegib in the management of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is the role of cemiplimab in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma?

What are the 5-year recurrence rates following treatment for basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

How is basal cell carcinoma (BCC) prevented?

Which medical personnel provide consultation to patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What is included in the long-term monitoring of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

Guidelines

What are the USPSTF guidelines for skin cancer counseling and prevention of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines for prevention of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in children and adolescents?

What are the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommendations or prevention of severe sunburns and basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What are the USPSTF guidelines for screening and early detection of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What are the American Cancer Society and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) guidelines for screening and early detection of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

Which organizations have issued treatment guidelines for basal cell carcinoma?

What are the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for the workup of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What are the AAD biopsy diagnostic guidelines for basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What are the German Cancer Society and the German Society of Dermatology guidelines for the workup of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

How are basal cell carcinoma classified in the NCCN and EDF guidelines?

What are histologically aggressive subtypes of basal cell carcinoma?

What are low-risk, non-aggressive subtypes of basal cell carcinoma?

What are the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) treatment guidelines for basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What are the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) treatment guidelines for basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What are the AAD treatment guidelines for basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What are the appropriate use criteria for Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What are the guidelines on the treatment of recurrent and metastatic basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What are the guidelines on the follow-up and surveillance of patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

What are the American Society for Radiation Oncology guidelines on radiation therapy for basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

Medications

Which medications are used for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

Which medications in the drug class Keratolytic Agents are used in the treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma?

Which medications in the drug class Photosensitizing Agent, Topical are used in the treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma?

Which medications in the drug class PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors are used in the treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma?

Which medications in the drug class Antineoplastics, Hedgehog Pathway Inhibitor are used in the treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma?

Which medications in the drug class Antineoplastic Agents are used in the treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma?

Which medications in the drug class Topical Skin Products are used in the treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma?