Basal cell carcinoma within rhinophyma: coincidence or relationship?

INTRODUCTION: Rhinophyma is a relatively rare form of rosacea, while basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequent skin cancer in humans – both diseases prevail in the elderly. AIM: To analyse patients with rhinophyma treated surgically in the Dermatosurgery Unit and look for possible cases with BCC within the rhinophyma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all treated rhinophymas in the Dermatosurgery Unit in 2004–2019. RESULTS: Among 140 rhinophyma patients 2 (1.4%) subjects with concomitant clinically diagnosed and histologically confirmed BCC were found, with BCC located in the hypertrophic tissue of the nose. There were no patients with BCC located in other anatomical regions of the skin. Both of these patients were in more advanced age. CONCLUSIONS: Taking into consideration these two conditions: advanced age and anatomical location, typical for BCC, one may speculate that the development of BCC within rhinophyma is rather a simple coincidence. However, more numerous series of patients with rhinophyma are needed to clear the controversy of BCC within rhinophyma hypertrophic tissue.