Basal cell carcinoma of the lower extremities

Background: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common form of skin cancer, usually occurs in the sun-exposed areas of the body like head and neck, yet is also seen in unexpected sites. Myriad studies have mentioned a lower limb BCC incidence rate of 1.5-13.5%. Methods: The present retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 650 BCC patients, who were referred to the dermatology tumor clinic of Razi hospital from 2008 to 2012 with confirmed biopsy results of BCC. Patient characteristics including age, sex, relevant history and physical examination and tumor characteristics such as location and pathological subtypes were recorded. Results: The prevalence of lower limb BCC was 1.53% with the mean age of 69.5 years and a male to female ratio of 2.33:1. Of 10 cases with BCC on the lower extremities, 6 were on the legs, 3 on the thighs and 1 on the foot. The most frequent pathological type was nodular and constant UV exposure was the most important risk factor (60%). Other underlying factors were chemical exposure, chronic ulcer and history of radiation. Conclusion: BCC of the lower limbs is more prevalent in men compared with women. Moreover, UV exposure is the most important risk factor for BCC. On the other hand, factors like ulcers, radiation and chemical exposure have to be further considered.