title: Current diagnosis and treatment of basal cell carcinoma.
abstract: Basal cell carcinoma represents is most common tumor in fair-skinned individuals. In Germany, age-standardized incidence rates are 63 (women) and 80 (men) per 100,000 population per year. Early lesions may be difficult to diagnose merely on clinical grounds. Here, noninvasive diagnostic tools such as optical coherence tomography and confocal laser scanning microscopy may be helpful. The clinical diagnosis is usually confirmed by histology. Standard therapy consists of complete excision with thorough histological examination, either by means of micrographic surgery or, depending on tumor size and location as well as infiltration, using surgical margins of 3-5 mm or more. In particular, multiple basal cell carcinomas (such as in Gorlin-Goltz syndrome) and locally advanced as well as rarely also metastatic basal cell carcinoma may pose a therapeutic challenge. In superficial basal cell carcinoma, nonsurgical therapies such as photodynamic therapy or topical agents may be considered. In case of locally advanced or metastatic basal cell carcinoma, an interdisciplinary tumor board should issue therapeutic recommendations. These include radiation therapy as well as systemic therapy with a hedgehog inhibitor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Mareike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alter
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hillen
authors.affiliation: Center for Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Leiter
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Allergology, and Phlebology, Medical Center Bremerhaven, Bremerhaven, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sachse
authors.affiliation: Skin Tumor Center Hanover, Department of Dermatology, Allergology, and Venereology, Medical University Hanover, Hanover, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gutzmer
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures / Q000639:trends; D003880:Dermatology / Q000639:trends*; D046169:Dermoscopy / Q000639:trends; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000639:trends; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000639:trends; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000639:trends; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents