Correlation of clinical, histopathological and dermatoscopic findings in basal cell carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a low "grade" malignancy of basal keratinocytes, the cells responsible for epidermis formation . Basal cell carcinoma, is the most common cancer in human. Dermatoscopy ( dermoscopy, epiluminescence microscopy, surface microscopy ) is a non invasive diagnosis metode in dermatology. Through this metode , instead of only clinical examination , diagnosis of pigmented and non-pigmented skin lesions can be made with more sensitivity and specifity. Malign skin tumours can be detected early. Unnecessary excision of benign skin tumours can be avoided . There have been a lot of studies in dermoscopy about pigmented basal cell carcinoma and superficial basal cell carcinoma. However, there are a few studies about dermoscopy of all subtypes of basal cell carcinoma. The aim of this study is to correlate and investigate clinical, dermatoscopical and histopathological features of all subtypes of basal cell carcinoma in large patient group. Approval was obtained from Ethics Council of Bezmialem Vakif University for the master thesis. The study achieved , retrospectively, on 104 patient who admitted Bezmialem Vakif University Medical Faculty Hospital, Dermatology Department between 2012 and 2015, examined by clinically and dermatoscopically and diagnosed 111 basal cell carcinoma by histhopathologically. Histopathologically, most common features were solid type, afterwards sequentially infiltrative type and ulceration. Among dermatoscopical features, short fine telangiectasias, pink-white areas, dot vessels, arborizing vessels were seen most. Study indicated the importance of vascular structure, pinky white areas and ulceration in non-pigmented basal cell carcinomas. Although dermatoscopy can't substitude histopathology which is the gold standard in diagnosing subtypes of basal cell carcinoma, improves accuracy of clinical diagnosis and assist clinician. Dermatoscopy should be utilized not only in pigmented basal cell carsinomas, also non pigmented basal cell carcinomas .