Basal cell carcinoma- multiple

Overview

Basal cell carcinoma is a type of skin cancer. It is the most common of all types of skin cancers. About 3 out of 10 caucasians can expect to develop a basal cell cancer in their lifetime in the United States

Symptoms

* Large head * Frontoparietal bossing * Broad nasal bridge * Well-developed supra-orbital ridges * Heavy eyebrows * Fused eyebrows * Widely spaced eyes * Projecting jaw * Hyperpneumatization of paranasal sinuses * Bony bridging of sella turcica * Odontogenic keratocysts of jaws

Prevention

asal cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer. It occurs mainly in fair-skinned patients with a family history of this cancer. Sunlight is a factor in about two-thirds of these cancers, but one-third occur in non-sun-exposed areas. Therefore, doctors recommend sun screens.

Diagnosis

To diagnose basal cell carcinomas, a skin biopsy (where tissue is taken for pathological study) is done using local anesthesia. A suspected basal cell cancer should be biopsied first, and the final surgery is performed after the initial diagnosis is confirmed. The standard surgical margin for basal cell carcinoma (4 to 6 mm) is excessive to allow simple excisional biopsy to be performed even for small basal cell carcinoma. In rare cases, amelanotic melanoma and metastatic carcinoma can mimic basal cell cancers.

Prognosis

Although basal cell carcinoma rarely metastasizes, it grows locally with invasion and destruction of local tissues, without stopping. The cancer can impinge on vital structures and result in loss of extension or loss of function or rarely death. The vast majority of cases can be successfully treated before serious complications occur. The recurrence rate for the above treatment options ranges from 50% to 1% or less.

Treatment

The following methods are employed in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC): Mohs surgery, Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy