Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Umbilicus: A Comprehensive Literature Review

Abstract

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) typically occurs in sun-exposed sites. Only 16 individuals with umbilical BCC have been described in the literature, and the characteristics of patients with umbilical BCC are summarized. PubMed was used to search the following terms: abdomen, basal cell carcinoma, basal cell nevus syndrome, and umbilicus. Papers with these terms and references cited within these papers were reviewed. BCC of the umbilicus has been reported in five men and 11 women; one man had two tumors. Two patients had basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS). Other risk factors for BCC were absent. The tumor most commonly demonstrated nodular histology (64%, 9/14); superficial and fibroepithelioma of Pinkus variants were noted in three and two patients, respectively. The tumor was pigmented in eight individuals. Treatment was conventional surgical excision (87%, 13/15) or Mohs micrographic surgery (13%, 2/15); either adjuvant laser ablation or radiotherapy was performed in two patients. The prognosis after treatment was excellent with no recurrence or metastasis (100%, 16/16). In conclusion, BCC of the umbilicus is rare. It usually presents as a tumor with a non-aggressive histologic subtype in an individual with no risk factors for this malignancy. There has been no recurrence or metastasis following excision of the cancer.

Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Patient and Physician’s Experience

“…Indeed, similar to her tumor, most basal cell carcinomas occur on skin that has been directly exposed to the sun. However, albeit less common, basal cell carcinomas can occur at usual sites, at locations that have been shielded from the sun, or both; these include the axilla [ 6 , 16 ], breast and nipple [ 20 ], buttock and perianal area [ 21 ], foot, groin, penis and scrotum, periungual and subungual area (adjacent and beneath the nail) [ 22 , 23 ], umbilicus [ 24 ], and vulva.…”

Giant morphea-form basal cell carcinoma of the umbilicus: Successful debulking with vismodegib

“…1 Their mean size was around 1-1.5 cm in diameter. 1 Giant BCCs (>5 cm in diameter) represent around 1% of all BCCs. Supergiant BCCs are even more exceptional and are defined by a lesion size exceeding 20 cm.…”

“…BCCs of the umbilical region are extremely rare and only 17 cases have been published until now. [1][2][3][4] Most of the reported umbilical BCCs were of the nodular subtype and accessorily of the superficial subtype. 1 Their mean size was around 1-1.5 cm in diameter.…”

“…[1][2][3][4] Most of the reported umbilical BCCs were of the nodular subtype and accessorily of the superficial subtype. 1 Their mean size was around 1-1.5 cm in diameter. 1 Giant BCCs (>5 cm in diameter) represent around 1% of all BCCs.…”

Association between SNPs and Loss of Methylation Site on the CpG island of the Promoter Region of the Smoothened Gene, Potential Molecular Markers for Susceptibility to the Development of Basal Cell Carcinoma in the Brazilian Population

“…Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a cutaneous neoplasm that originates from immature pluripotent epithelial basal cells that have lost their capacity for differentiation, normal keratinization and cutaneous appendages development (Narala and Cohen, 2016). BCC is one of the most frequent types of malignant skin tumors, with slow growing prominent lesions and invasive potential, but metastasis are rare (Kosiniak-kamysz et al, 2012).…”