Retrospective Analysis of Patients with Basal Cell Carcinoma Diagnosed in Our Clinic

Aim: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignancy of the skin and its incidence is steadily increasing. The aim of our study was to reveal the clinical and demographic characteristics of BCC. Materials and Methods: The study included 273 BCC that were histopathologically diagnosed in 256 patients who admitted the Dermatology Clinic of Tekirdag Namik Kemal University between January 2014 and January 2019. The patients' age, gender, tumor histological subtype, tumor localization, and co-morbid conditions were all assessed retrospectively in the study. Results: The mean age of the 256 patients included in the study with BCC was statistically 67.67, with the youngest patient being 32 and the oldest patient being 104 years old. Of the patients, 137 were male (56.5%), and 119 were female (46.5%). The most common histopathological subtype observed was the nodular type, accounting for 61.5% (n=168), and the most frequent localization was the head and neck region, accounting for 88.3% (n=241). Conclusion: BCC is the most common epidermal malignancy of the skin, characterized by a slow growth pattern and a locally invasive nature. It often occurs in individuals aged 50 and above, particularly in the head and neck region where there is intense exposure to ultraviolet radiation. In our study, we also observed that BCC was most frequently seen in the 70-80 age range, primarily in the head and neck region, and predominantly in the nodular subtype. The superficial type was more commonly observed on the trunk. Although the incidence of BCC is similar between males and females, it tends to occur more frequently in females at younger ages.