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Edmonton's Cosmetic Surgery Clinic
Are there different types of BCC?
YES - There are several different types of basal cell carcinoma. It is important to distinguish these types prior to treatment, as different therapies may be required. For this reason, a biopsy is performed prior to treatment of any kind.
There are 3 main types of BCC:
Nodular BCC
Nodular BCCs comprise 60% of all BCCs. These start as slightly pink, skin-colored or light brown flat lesions that slowly grow into small bumps. Sometimes they almost have clear center and small blood vessels on the surface and therefore are called "pearly papules". As they grow, the edges can raise and the center can form an open sore or an ulcer. Most nodular BCCs are on the head and neck region. If you are concerned that you may have a basal cell carcinoma or another skin cancer, please
see your doctor or a dermatologist.
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Superficial BCC
Superficial BCCs are thought to be about 15% of BCCs and are the least aggressive form of BCC. They present as pink, red or slightly brown, scaly (flaky), well-defined patches. These are most common on the back, chest, abdomen and legs. They are less common on the head and neck region. These superficial BCCs are frequently confused with psoriasis, eczema or fungal infection. When the usual treatments for these other conditions do not work, a small biopsy maybe needed to make sure that the lesion is not a superficial BCC. If you are concerned that you may have a basal cell carcinoma or another skin cancer, please see your doctor or a dermatologist.
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Sclerosing, morpheaform or fibrosing BCC
This form of BCC (all three names are synonyms) is not very common but it is difficult to treat because it is the most difficult to detect. These cancers are mostly found on the face and they can look like a scar. They have a very dense center " just like a scar" but there is no history of injury. Just like an old scar, these cancers do not have sharp edges and are prone to recurrences. It is absolutely important that sophisticated treatment techniques such as Mohs Micrographic Surgery be used to treat these, especially on the head and neck region. If you are concerned that you may have a basal cell carcinoma or another skin cancer, please see your doctor or a dermatologist.
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