basal-cell carcinoma basal-cell carcinoma basal-cell carcinoma (bcc), also known as basal-cell cancer, is the most common type of skin cancer. it often appears as a painless raised area of skin, which may be shiny with small blood vessels running over it. it may also present as a raised area with ulceration. basal-cell cancer grows slowly and can damage the tissue around it, but it is unlikely to spread to distant areas or result in death. "rodent ulcer" redirects here. for the skin condition in cats, see eosinophilic granuloma. basal-cell carcinomaother namesbasal-cell skin cancer, basaliomaan ulcerated basal cell carcinoma near the ear of a 75-year-old malespecialtydermatology, oncologysymptomspainless raised area of skin that may be shiny with small blood vessel running over it or ulcerationrisk factorslight skin, ultraviolet light, radiation therapy, arsenic, poor immune functiondiagnostic methodexamination, skin biopsydifferential diagnosismilia, seborrheic keratosis, melanoma, psoriasistreatmentsurgical removalprognosisgoodfrequency~30% of white people at some point (us)deathsrare risk factors include exposure to ultraviolet light, having lighter skin, radiation therapy, long-term exposure to arsenic and poor immune-system function. exposure to uv light during childhood is particularly harmful. tanning beds have become another common source of ultraviolet radiation. diagnosis often depends on skin examination, confirmed by tissue biopsy. it remains unclear whether sunscreen affects the risk of basal-cell cancer. treatment is typically by surgical removal. this can be by simple excision if the cancer is small; otherwise, mohs surgery is generally recommended. other options include electrodesiccation and curettage, cryosurgery, topical chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, laser surgery or the use of imiquimod, a topical immune-activating medication. in the rare cases in which distant spread has occurred, chemotherapy or targeted therapy may be used. basal-cell cancer accounts for at least 32% of all cancers globally. of skin cancers other than melanoma, about 80% are basal-cell cancers. in the united states, about 35% of white males and 25% of white females are affected by bcc at some point in their lives. basal-cell carcinoma is named after the basal cells that form the lowest layer of the epidermis. it is thought to develop from the folliculo–sebaceous–apocrine germinative cells called trichoblasts (of note, trichoblastic carcinoma is a term sometimes used to refer to a rare type of aggressive skin cancer that may resemble a benign trichoblastoma, and can also closely resemble basal cell carcinoma). signs and symptoms individuals with a basal-cell carcinoma typically present with a shiny, pearly skin nodule. however, superficial basal-cell cancer can present as a red patch similar to eczema. infiltrative or morpheaform basal-cell cancers can present as a skin thickening or scar tissue – making diagnosis difficult without using tactile sensation and a skin biopsy. it is often difficult to visually distinguish basal-cell cancer from acne scar, actinic elastosis, and recent cryodestruction inflammation. basal cell carcinoma on patient's back basal-cell carcinoma basal cell carcinoma on the left upper back, nodular and micronodular, marked for biopsy dermoscopy showing telangiectatic vessels cause