Journal of the Chinese Medical Association
Volume 69, Issue 8 , Pages 364-371, August 2006

Clinical and Histopathologic Findings of Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Comparison with Other Basal Cell Carcinoma Subtypes

  • Chih-Chiang Chen

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taiwan, R.O.C.
    • Department of Dermatology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taiwan, R.O.C.
    • Department of Dermatology, Tao Yuan Veterans Hospital, Tao Yuan, Taiwan, R.O.C.
    • ,
  • Chang-Lin Chen

      Affiliations

    • Department of Dermatology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taiwan, R.O.C.
    • Department of Dermatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Dr Chang-Lin Chen, Department of Dermatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, 201, Section 2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei 112, Taiwan, R.O.C.

Received 6 October 2005; accepted 17 May 2006.

Article Outline

Background

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cancer in white populations. However, BCC is uncommon in Taiwan, and its subtype, superficial BCC (SBCC), is even less common. The characteristics of these 2 cancers in Taiwanese have never been analyzed before. Our purpose was to study the clinical and histopathologic features of SBCC in comparison with other BCC subtypes (OBCC).

Methods

Thirty Taiwanese patients with SBCC from 1974 to 2003 were retrospectively examined at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. We analyzed the age, gender distribution, site of the lesions, clinical appearance, incidence of metastasis, and the proportion of secondary amyloid deposits. We then compared these features with those of 354 Taiwanese patients with OBCC.

Results

Compared with the black pearly appearance of OBCC, erythematous plaques or patches with multiple tiny blackish papules were the most common clinical appearance of SBCC. Tumor size was significantly larger than OBCC (p<0.05). The trunk was the most common area where SBCC arose. Conversely, OBCC occurred mainly on the head and neck (p < 0.001). Females were significantly younger than males in both SBCC and OBCC groups (p < 0.05). The frequency of secondary amyloid deposits was lower in SBCC than OBCC (p< 0.05).

Conclusion

The unique findings of SBCC would help to classify the subtypes of BCC. The mechanism of development of each subtype is worth further investigation in the future.

Key Words:  amyloid , basal cell carcinoma , superficial basal cell carcinoma

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PII: S1726-4901(09)70274-6

doi:10.1016/S1726-4901(09)70274-6

Journal of the Chinese Medical Association
Volume 69, Issue 8 , Pages 364-371, August 2006

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