Role of Dermoscopy in the Assessment of Basal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Basal cell carcinoma is one of the most common cancers in white people, with a continuous increase worldwide. Dermoscopy, a non-invasive technique, allows early diagnosis based on the presence of typical vascular structures, pigmented structures, and ulceration and the absence of specific melanocytic structures. Moreover, dermoscopy is useful in basal cell carcinoma management, enabling the differentiation between multiple histological subtypes, between pigmented and non-pigmented variants and allowing a more accurate assessment of surgical margins. After non-ablative therapies, dermoscopy allows the accurate detection of residual disease. The purpose of this review is to highlight the dermoscopic features encountered in basal cell carcinoma and to outline the role of dermoscopy for diagnosis and therapeutic response in this cancer.

Use of Dermatoscopy in Lesions Suspicious for Melanoma: Two Case Reports

“…The occurrence of melanin in a lesion does not always indicate a melanoma; conversely, some pigmented structures, such as blue-grey globules, dots and ovoid nests, maple leaf-like areas, spoke-wheel structures are highly specific for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) (6). However, the most distinctive feature differentiating pigmented BCC from malignant melanoma is the absence of pigment network (7).…”

Clinical and Molecular Features of Morpheaform Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review

“…Dermoscopy is an important clinical tool that allows for increased accuracy of BCC detection [78]. Moreover, dermoscopy can provide information on BCC subtype, the presence of pigmentation or ulceration, as well as response rates to a variety of therapies [79]. Although the dermoscopic features of morBCCs were infrequently reported in the literature (n = 4 studies), certain features were repeatedly noted.…”

Wide excision of Basal Cell Carcinoma on the upper extremity: A case report

“…Meanwhile, the fi nal and determined diagnosis is crucially concluded by using a histopathology examination (Litaiem et al, 2020). Dermoscopic examination in BCC is based mainly on the presence of typical vascular and pigmented structures, (arborizing vessels, short-fi ne telangiectasias, blue-grey globules, and dots, maple leaf-like areas, spokewheel structures, in-focus dots) ulceration, and the absence of specifi c melanocytic structures (Ungureanu et al, 2021). The histopathology features of BCC vary based on subtype, but most BCC share some common histologic characteristics.…”