Basal Cell Carcinoma
Abstract
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of malignant cancer found in the world today with a 3-10% increase in incidence each year. White males have a 33-39% risk of having BCC during his lifetime, whereas women have a risk of 23-28%. The American Cancer Society (2014) reported that 8 out of 10 patients with skin cancer are suffering from BCC with more than 2 million new cases each year.
Therefore a method needs to be developed that can detect BCC at the early stages to prevent late diagnosis of BCC which may lead to metastasis causing disabilities to patients and increasing treatment costs. In addition, BCC patients who have undergone surgery are still at risk for recurrence, especially when the surgery performed fails to …show more content…
(13) (CONFIRM IN ANDREW’s)
These different types not only have varying clinical and pathological profiles but also differing prognosis. The most aggressive and infiltrative BCC’s are the infiltrative and solitary type. Whereas aberrant refers to BCC’s which are found in areas such as scrotum, perineum, axilla etc without direct exposure to carcinogens such as radiation and arsenic. Superficial BCC’s are most often found in immunocompromised hosts such as those with an underlying Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. (13) Figure – Pathogenesis and Pathological Findings of BCC (14)
Signs and Symptoms
BCCs are usually asymptomatic with a slow progression. Bleeding when exposed to mild trauma is one of its characteristic early symptoms. They are commonly found on the face and behind the ears with more than 90% of BCC lesions found on the face. Other areas to focus on are the medial and lateral canthi and nasolabial folds.
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of malignant cancer found in the world today with a 3-10% increase in incidence each year. White males have a 33-39% risk of having BCC during his lifetime, whereas women have a risk of 23-28%. The American Cancer Society (2014) reported that 8 out of 10 patients with skin cancer are suffering from BCC with more than 2 million new cases each year.
Therefore a method needs to be developed that can detect BCC at the early stages to prevent late diagnosis of BCC which may lead to metastasis causing disabilities to patients and increasing treatment costs. In addition, BCC patients who have undergone surgery are still at risk for recurrence, especially when the surgery performed fails to …show more content…
(13) (CONFIRM IN ANDREW’s)
These different types not only have varying clinical and pathological profiles but also differing prognosis. The most aggressive and infiltrative BCC’s are the infiltrative and solitary type. Whereas aberrant refers to BCC’s which are found in areas such as scrotum, perineum, axilla etc without direct exposure to carcinogens such as radiation and arsenic. Superficial BCC’s are most often found in immunocompromised hosts such as those with an underlying Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. (13) Figure – Pathogenesis and Pathological Findings of BCC (14)
Signs and Symptoms
BCCs are usually asymptomatic with a slow progression. Bleeding when exposed to mild trauma is one of its characteristic early symptoms. They are commonly found on the face and behind the ears with more than 90% of BCC lesions found on the face. Other areas to focus on are the medial and lateral canthi and nasolabial folds.