Clinical features

• Typically in areas of skin exposed to sun

• Basal cell carcinoma of the face typically occurs above the line joining the earlobe and the corner of the mouth

  • Forehead

  • Eyelids

  • Nose and nasolabial fold

  • Upper lip

• The palms, soles of the feet, and mucous membranes are rarely affected.

• Pearly nodule with superficial telangiectasia

• Nonhealing ulcer with a central depression and rolled, nontender borders (rodent ulcer)

• Scaling plaque (superficial basal cell carcinoma)

• Slow-growing, over months to years

• Typically painless

• Locally invasive

• Very rarely metastasizes

To remember the usual site of occurrence of basal cell carcinoma, think of: “Basal cell carcinoma is more common aBove the upper lip.”