[Pigmented basocellular epithelioma. Presentation of 7 cases].

OBJECTIVE

To review the clinical, histological, evolutive and therapeutical characteristics of basal cell carcinoma and the pigmented subtype.

DESIGN

Descriptive transversal study.

LOCATION: Primary Care; Clinic of Dermatology in a Primary Care of Madrid.

PARTICIPANTS

Seven patients (4 males, 3 females) over 60 years old with pigmented lesions and skin little pigmented.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN

RESULTS

Medical records and the histological examination were reviewed in all the cases. The clinical evolution had been the same in all the patients starting with an asymptomatic papular lesion of dark pigmentation growing slowly. Finally the lesions were transformed to a plaque or a shining nodule. Prolonged exposure to sunlight was present in five cases. All the patients were referred to the Dermatology Clinic with the presumptive diagnosis of melanoma. The lesion histological examination was diagnostic.

CONCLUSIONS

It is very important the knowledge of basal cell carcinoma in Primary Care due the elevated incidence mainly among the geriatric population and the immunosupressed subjects. We must think in this type of neoplasia, doing the differential diagnosis with the other pigmented lesions. It is necessary to perform the histological examination of the suspects lesions.