Characteristics of Mixed Type Basal Cell Carcinoma in Comparison to Other BCC Subtypes.
BACKGROUND
There are limited data exploring the characteristics of mixed type basal cell carcinoma (BCC).


OBJECTIVE
To explore different characteristics of mixed type BCC.


METHODS
Cross sectional study.


METHODS
825 patients with BCC enrolled in this study.


RESULTS
Among 825 patients, 512 (62%) were male. Three hundred and fifty five (43%) presented with nodular subtype, 267 (32.4%) with mixed subtype, 25 with superficial and the 178 remaining presented with other subtypes. Four hundred and eighty three (58.6%) of the lesions were on the face, 243 (29.5%) on scalp, 52 (6.3%) on ears, 20 (2.4%) on neck, 15 (1.8%) on trunk and 12 (1.4%) on extremities. Anatomic distribution of mixed type was as follows: 137 on face, (51.4%), 100 (37.3%) on scalp, 19 (7%) on ear, 6 (2.1%) on neck, 4 (1.5%) extremity and 1 (0.7%) on trunk, which the difference from non mixed types was statistically significant (P = 0.002). The mean diameter of the mixed types and non mixed type BCCs were significantly different (2.7 ± 2.1 cm vs. 2.2 ± 1.6 cm; P = 0.01. The prevalence of necrosis in mixed type BCC was two times higher than non mixed type BCCs (OR = 2.3, CI 95% 1.3-3.9, P = 0.001). The most frequent combined subtypes were nodular-infiltrative (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Mixed type BCC has differences with other BCC subtypes in anatomical distribution and tumor diameter. Indeed, mixed type BCCs are frequently composed of aggressive subtypes than nonaggressive subtypes.
Department of Dermatopathology, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
A
A
Ghanadan
Department of Pathology, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
A
A
Abbasi
Department of Dermatology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
M
M
Rabet
Department of Dermatopathology, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
P
P
Abdollahi
Department of Internal Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
Ma
M
Abbasi
Basal cell carcinoma; mixed type; skin