What is the most aggressive subtype of basal cell carcinoma?

Among the three most common BCC histotypes, infiltrative forms are the most aggressive and it has been reported as an independent risk factor for post-surgical recurrence (10). Superficial and nodular BCCs are instead non-aggressive forms, with a very low surgical recurrence (1).

Is there an aggressive form of basal cell carcinoma?

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) can present with indolent or aggressive subtypes. These subtypes usually display vascular features, which are often readily identified using dermatoscopy.

What is the most aggressive form of basal cell carcinoma?

Very rarely, BCC can spread to different parts of your body. That means cells from your original tumor show up somewhere else. Your doctor is most likely to find metastatic BCC in your bones, lungs, liver, or lymph nodes. This is the most serious kind of advanced BCC.

Is nodular BCC aggressive?

It is common for BCCs to show mixed histologic patterns of these various types. Even the less invasive variants may invade deeply when located in regions of embryonic fusion planes, such as around the nose and ears. BCC can be locally aggressive but metastasis is rare, with rates ranging from 0.003% to 0.55%.

What are the subtypes of basal cell carcinoma?

There are four main clinical variants of basal cell carcinoma. These are nodular, superficial spreading, sclerosing and pigmented basal cell carcinomas.

Some Basal Cell Skin Cancers Aggressive

What is Stage 4 basal cell carcinoma?

Stage 4. The cancer can be any size and may have spread to nearby lymph nodes. It has also spread to areas outside the skin, such as to distant organs like the brain or lungs, or has invaded the skeleton (axial or appendicular) or perineural invasion of skull base.

What is the difference between nodular and micronodular basal cell carcinoma?

Micronodular basal cell carcinoma is thought to have a greater potential for clinically surreptitious tumor spread compared with the majority of basal cell carcinomas that are nodular. They also have wider and deeper tumor extensions than nodular basal cell carcinomas of similar clinical size.

What is aggressive basal cell?

Aggressive-growth basal cell carcinoma (AG-BCC) defines a group of basal cell cancers that are histologically and clinically aggressive. This group includes morpheaform, infiltrating, and recurrent BCCs.

What does aggressive basal cell carcinoma look like?

What does BCC look like? BCCs can look like open sores, red patches, pink growths, shiny bumps, scars or growths with slightly elevated, rolled edges and/or a central indentation. At times, BCCs may ooze, crust, itch or bleed. The lesions commonly arise in sun-exposed areas of the body.

What is considered advanced BCC?

Locally advanced BCC occurs when tumors become large or have grown deep into the skin, underlying tissues, muscles, or nerves, destroying nearby healthy tissue. These lesions can become swollen, painful, and disfiguring. Locally advanced BCC makes up approximately 95% of advanced BCC cases.

What is worse squamous or basal?

Though not as common as basal cell (about one million new cases a year), squamous cell is more serious because it is likely to spread (metastasize).

Is basal cell carcinoma aggressive and rapid growing?

Background: Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) are generally regarded as slow-growing tumours.

Is Morpheaform basal cell carcinoma aggressive?

Morpheaform basal cell carcinoma is an aggressive subtype of BCC. It makes up about 5 to 10 percent of BCC cases. It is usually located on the face. It is rarely located elsewhere on the body.

What is metastatic basal cell carcinoma?

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) accounts for 80% of all nonmelanoma skin cancers. Its metastasis is extremely rare, ranging between 0.0028 and 0.55 of all BCC cases. The usual metastasis to lymph nodes, lungs, bones, or skin is from the primary tumor situated in the head and neck region in nearly 85% cases.

How long does basal cell carcinoma take to metastasize?

In one review of 170 cases, the median interval between onset of BCC and metastasis was 9 years, with a range of less than 1 year to 45 years. Despite the long period from onset to metastasis, the tumor behaves aggressively once metastasis occurs.

What is nodular type basal cell carcinoma?

Nodular basal cell carcinoma comprises about 60-80% of the cases and occurs most often on the skin of the head. Clinically it is presented by elevated, exophytic pearl-shaped nodules with telangiectasie on the surface and periphery [Figure 1]. Subsequently, nodular BCC can extend into ulcerative or cystic pattern.

What does Morpheaform basal cell carcinoma look like?

Such lesions appear as flat or slightly depressed, fibrotic, and firm. The tumor appears as a white or yellow, waxy, sclerotic plaque that rarely ulcerates. The morpheaform (sclerosing) type of basal cell carcinoma is often the most difficult type to diagnose, as it bears little resemblance to the typical nodular BCC.

How aggressive is carcinoma?

Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is usually not life-threatening, though it can be aggressive. Untreated, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin can grow large or spread to other parts of your body, causing serious complications.

How aggressive is infiltrative basal cell carcinoma?

Infiltrating basal cell carcinomas can be more aggressive and locally destructive than other types of basal cell carcinoma. They can invade more deeply and widely than may first be evident by the superficial appearance of the skin cancer.

How can you tell if basal cell carcinoma has spread?

Ask your doctor if your lymph nodes will be tested. Basal and squamous cell cancers don't often spread to other parts of the body. But if your doctor thinks your skin cancer might spread, you might need imaging tests, such as MRI or CT scans.

How serious is Micronodular basal cell?

Conclusions: Micronodular BCCs can be significantly more destructive than nodular BCCs because tumor extension is difficult to detect clinically. When treating micronodular BCC, clinicians should keep in mind its potential for clandestine invasion.

How deep can nodular basal cell carcinoma grow?

Combined superficial and nodular BCC subtype depths ranged from 0.63 mm on the thigh to 1.50 mm on the lip. Nodular BCC depths ranged from 1.36 mm on the eyelid to 1.98 mm on the hand. Finally, aggressive BCC subtype depths ranged from 0.94 mm on the shoulder to 1.80 mm on the neck.

What does Micronodular basal cell carcinoma look like?

Micronodular Basal Cell Carcinoma

Micronodular BCC lesions are skin-colored to slightly greyish and may appear a whitish-yellow when stretched. The lesions occur most commonly around the eyes and are often firm to the touch. Unlike nodular BCC, micronodular BCC is less prone to ulceration.

What is the average size of a basal cell carcinoma?

Average diameter of lesions was 12.2 mm; the biggest lesion measured 5.3 cm, the smallest 0.2 cm. Margins taken were 3 to 5 mm on cervico-facial area, 2-3 mm on noble areas as lips, ears, and eyelid and 5 to 10 mm on other areas.

How many stages are there in basal cell carcinoma?

The stages range from zero to four; higher numbers indicate more aggressive cancers. Most oncologists use the following scale: Stage 0 basal cell carcinoma (carcinoma in situ) – These cancers are only present in the epidermis or the upper layer of the skin.