Publication:

Pigmented basal cell carcinoma: a rare variant at a rare site

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC), is a most common malignancy reported in the western world. It arises most often in sun-exposed areas (80-85%) especially head and neck consistent with the etiologic role of solar radiation. However, there are atypical localizations such as abdomen, perianal region, groin that require a higher index of suspicion to arrive at the correct diagnosis. Exposure to sunlight is thought to be most responsible etiological factor of BCC, although trauma and scar tissue have also been implicated as possible etiological causes. It has a cure rate of 100% with early diagnosis and surgical excision. Pigmented BCC is a rare clinical and histological variant of BCC that exhibits increase pigmentation. We present a case of rare variant of basal cell carcinoma of abdominal location over a prior surgical scar.