Significance of pre-existent conditions in basal cell carcinoma on the lower extremities.

BACKGROUND

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) rarely appears on the lower extremities; over 85% appear on the head and neck.

CASE REPORTS: Five patients had BCC on the lower extremity. Histologically, this was of the superficial type. One patient developed a lesion of actinic keratosis.

RESULTS

The presence of pre-existent cutaneous changes of BCC arising on the lower extremities was studied. Among 40 tumors reported in Japan, 10 cases (25%) had pre-existent cutaneous changes. This value is significantly higher than those of BCC over the whole body in both Japanese and Caucasian.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-existent cutaneous changes, thus, are thought to be a possible etiologic factor in the pathogenesis of BCC on the lower extremities.