CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF RADIATION INDUCED BASAL CELL CARCINOMA

BACKGROUND: Development of skin neoplasms is one of the most important chronic complications of radiation therapy. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequent carcinoma occurring at the region of the body to which radiotherapy was delivered. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical and histological aspects of basal cell carcinoma in patients with a history of radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records and microscopic slides of 80 patients with basal cell carcinoma who had received radiotherapy (1996-2006) were reviewed in pathology department of Imam Reza hospital of Mashhad, Iran. Collected data were analyzed statistically using descriptive test. RESULTS: 60 men and 20 women were included, majority of them in their sixties. Plaque was the most common clinical pattern of basal cell carcinoma. Fifty one percent of the patients had pigmented and 42.5% had multiple lesions. Scalp was the most common site of involvement. Histologically, macronodular and pigmented carcinoma were the most predominant forms of basal cell carcinoma. DISCUSSION: Majority of patients had scalp involvement and multiple lesions. Nodular and pigmented forms were the most common histological findings. We suggest the need for close supervision in patients with a history of radio therapy in the past.