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.


METHODS
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.
Nogita
T
T
Department of Dermatology, Tokyo Women's Medical College, Japan.
Kamikawa
T
T
Kawashima
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology