title: An ulcerated nodule on the nose.
abstract: A 75-year-old retired nurse, originally from Barbados, presented to her general practitioner (GP) with a scaling ulcerated nodule on the left side of her nose. She was taking medication for type 2 diabetes, hypertension and glaucoma, but was otherwise well with no systemic symptoms. Her GP diagnosed a patch of eczema; however, a trial of topical steroids was not effective and she was referred to dermatology. A skin biopsy confirmed the clinical suspicion that this patient had a nodular basal cell carcinoma (BCC). BCCs account for 75% of all skin cancers; they very rarely metastasise, but can spread to invade local structures. Our patient has type VI skin. Skin cancer is rare in patients with skin type VI; however, in this group, morbidity and mortality are disproportionately high in relation to cancer incidence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Guys and St Thomas' Hospital Trust, London, UK. catriona.maybury@gmail.com
authors.forename: Catriona M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Maybury
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Craythorne
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015580:Mohs Surgery; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery