Basal Cell Carcinomas Developing in individuals younger than 40 years: Clinico- Histopathological study

Abstract

Background & aim: To assess the clinicopathologic features of Basal Cell Carcinomas developing in individuals younger than 40 years.

Setting: Dermatology Hospital-Damascus University.

Patients and Methods: A retrospective study of all cases of Basal Cell Carcinomas developing in individuals younger than 40 years was done during 10years,between01/01/2008 and 31/12/2017.Their clinical features and histopathological types had been defined,with their relation to anatomic distribution of these tumors ,and were compared with control group(73 tumors of BCCs developing in individuals older than 40 years,randomizely selected).

Results: The incidence of Basal Cell Carcinomas in individuals younger than 40 years was 8,42% in comparison to all cases of BCC diagnosed during the mentioned period.The male-female ratio was 1,19(with a slight increase in males) vs 0,82 in control group.The mean age was 29,71 years (ranging from 16 to 40 years) in the first group. In both groups,BCC s were predominantly  located over the head and neck,and the nodular histopathological type was the most frequent.Extracephalic locations of BCCs developing in individuals younger than 40 years were more frequent(10,97% vs 6,94%in control group)with predominance of superficial histopathological type in these locations in two groups. The incidence of the more aggressive histopathological types(sclerodermiform and infiltrating types)were more pronounced in individuals younger than 40 years compared with controls( 13,41% vs 6,94%).

Conclusion: Basal Cell Carcinomas Developing in individuals younger than 40 years have a specific clinicohistopathological features,with major location over the head and neck.The nodular histopathological type is the most prelevent.The incidence of superficial,sclerodermiform,infiltrative and keratotic histopathological types in individuals younger than 40 years were higher than controls(cases of BCC developing in individuals older than 40 years),but without signifigant statistical differences .