Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Basal Cell Carcinoma

  • Chapter
European Handbook of Dermatological Treatments

Abstract

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC), 80 % of all nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs), is the most common malignancy in humans, with an increasing incidence. Sun exposure, genetic predisposition, and immunosuppression are the main risk factors. Metastases are extremely rare and morbidity rather than mortality is the main issue regarding the socioeconomic impact of BCC. Surgical excision remains the treatment of choice in most cases, with radiotherapy still being a reliable alternative in selected cases. A variety of nonsurgical destructive methods such as cryotherapy, photodynamic treatment, and electrodessication after curettage, along with topical treatments such as imiquimod, are reserved for the treatment of superficial BCCs or basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS). Recently, novel targeted systemic therapies inhibiting the sonic hedgehog pathway promise to revolutionize the treatment of advanced BCCs, metastasized or locally destructive and inoperable.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 219.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 279.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Further Reading

  • Abramson AK, Krasny MJ, Goldman GD. Tangential shave removal of basal cell carcinoma. Dermatol Surg. 2013;39(3 Pt 1):387–92.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arits AH, Mosterd K, Essers BA, Spoorenberg E, Sommer A, De Rooij MJ, et al. Photodynamic therapy versus topical imiquimod versus topical fluorouracil for treatment of superficial basal-cell carcinoma: a single blind, non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Oncol. 2013;14(7):647–54.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Atwood SX, Chang AL, Oro AE. Hedgehog pathway inhibition and the race against tumor evolution. J Cell Biol. 2012;199(2):193–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Axelson M, Liu K, Jiang X, He K, Wang J, Zhao H, et al. U.S. Food and drug administration approval: vismodegib for recurrent, locally advanced, or metastatic basal cell carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2013;​19(9):2289–93.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Basset-Seguin N, Bissonnette R, Girard C, Haedersdal M, Lear JT, Paul C, et al. Consensus recommendations for the treatment of basal cell carcinomas in Gorlin syndrome with topical methylaminolaevulinate-photodynamic therapy. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2014;28:626–32.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blixt E, Nelsen D, Stratman E. Recurrence rates of aggressive histologic types of basal cell carcinoma after treatment with electrodesiccation and curettage alone. Dermatol Surg. 2013;39(5):719–25.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fecher LA. Systemic therapy for inoperable and metastatic basal cell cancer. Curr Treat Options Oncol. 2013;14(2):237–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hauschild A, Breuninger H, Kaufmann R, Kortmann RD, Schwipper V, Werner J, et al. Short German guidelines: basal cell carcinoma. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2008;6 Suppl 1:S2–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kasper M, Jaks V, Hohl D, Toftgård R. Basal cell carcinoma – molecular biology and potential new therapies. J Clin Invest. 2012;122(2):455–63.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu LS, Colegio OR. Molecularly targeted therapies for nonmelanoma skin cancers. Int J Dermatol. 2013;​52(6):654–65.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Macbeth AE, Grindlay DJ, Williams HC. What’s new in skin cancer? An analysis of guidelines and systematic reviews published in 2008–2009. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2011;36(5):453–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Messeguer F, Serra-Guillen C, Echeverria B, Requena C, Sanmartin O, Llombart B, et al. A pilot study of clinical efficacy of imiquimod and cryotherapy for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma with incomplete response to imiquimod. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2012;26(7):879–81.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miller SJ. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines of care for nonmelanoma skin cancers. Dermatol Surg. 2000;26(3):289–92.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moutran R, Maatouk I, Stephan F, Tomb R. Treatment of nodular basal cell carcinoma with cryotherapy and reduced protocol of imiquimod. Cutis. 2012;​90(5):256–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers CR, Bentz ML. An evidence-based approach to the treatment of nonmelanoma facial skin malignancies. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2011;127(2):940–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roozeboom MH, Arits AH, Nelemans PJ, Kelleners-Smeets NW. Overall treatment success after treatment of primary superficial basal cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and nonrandomized trials. Br J Dermatol. 2012;​167(4):733–56.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roozeboom MH, Aardoom MA, Nelemans PJ, Thissen MR, Kelleners-Smeets NW, Kuijpers DI, et al. Fractionated 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy after partial debulking versus surgical excision for nodular basal cell carcinoma: a randomized controlled trial with at least 5-year follow-up. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013;69(2):280–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sekulic A, Mangold AR, Northfelt DW, LoRusso PM. Advanced basal cell carcinoma of the skin: targeting the hedgehog pathway. Curr Opin Oncol. 2013;25(3): 218–23.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shokrollahi K, Javed M, Aeuyung K, Ghattaura A, Whitaker IS, O’Leary B, et al. Combined carbon dioxide laser with photodynamic therapy for nodular and superficial basal cell carcinoma: almost scarless cure with minimal recurrence. Ann Plast Surg. 2014;​73:552–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sterry W, European Dermatology Forum Guideline Committee. Guidelines: the management of basal cell carcinoma. Eur J Dermatol. 2006;16(5):467–75.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stockfleth E, Trefzer U, Garcia-Bartels C, Wegner T, Schmook T, Sterry W. The use of toll-like receptor-7 agonist in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma: an overview. Br J Dermatol. 2003;149 Suppl 66:53–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Telfer NR, Colver GB, Morton CA. British Association of Dermatologists Guidelines for the management of basal cell carcinoma. Br J Dermatol. 2008;​159(1):​35–48.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ulrich M, Stockfleth E, Roewert-Huber J, Astner S. Noninvasive diagnostic tools for nonmelanoma skin cancer. Br J Dermatol. 2007;157 Suppl 2:56–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, University of Athens Medical School, Andreas Sygros Hospital, Athens, Greece

    Dimitrios Papakostas

  2. Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Alergology, St. Josef-Hospital RUHR-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany

    Eggert Stockfleth

Authors
  1. Dimitrios Papakostas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Eggert Stockfleth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dimitrios Papakostas .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Andreas Syggros Hospital University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Andreas D. Katsambas  & Clio Dessinioti  & 

  2. University of Rome “G. Marconi”, Rome, Italy

    Torello M. Lotti

  3. Centro Studi per la Ricerca Multidisciplinare Rigenerativa (CSRMR), Rome, Italy

    Torello M. Lotti

  4. Unit of Dermatology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Angelo Massimiliano D’Erme

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Papakostas, D., Stockfleth, E. (2015). Basal Cell Carcinoma. In: Katsambas, A.D., Lotti, T.M., Dessinioti, C., D’Erme, A.M. (eds) European Handbook of Dermatological Treatments. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45139-7_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45139-7_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-45138-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-45139-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation