Diagnosis: Linear basal cell carcinoma

DISCUSSION BCC is the most frequent malignancy in humans, which grows in skin containing hair follicles and arises without precursors. BCCs are locally invasive without producing metastasis, with rare exceptions.1,2 These tumors are stroma dependent and they exhibit distinct epithelialvstromalvinflammatory patterns that correlate with BCC subtype and tumor progression.3 Clinical subtypes include nodular, cystic, pigmented, sclerosing or morpheaform, and superficial BCC.4 In this patient, there was a family history of BCC; both his mother and brother had BCC on their faces but their lesions were nodular. BCC’s with a linear appearance are extremely rare. The linear type of basal cell carcinoma was first dev scribed in 1985, by Lewis in a 73vyearvold man with a linear, pigmented lesion on the left cheek.5 Although 33 cases have been reported in the literature, linear BCC has not been defined as a distinct clinical entity in textv books.5v12 Marvikakis et al, in a review of previous case rev ports, defined the linear BCC as a relatively straight edged lesion with a lengthvtovwidth ratio of at least 3:1. According to their review, the most common histologiv cal subtype was nodular BCC which was detected in 20 cases.13 Our case was an ulceroinfiltrative BCC with a lengthvtovwidth ratio of 6:1. Mohs’ micrographic surgery was the choice of treatv ment in 22 cases.13 Some authors suggest that a marv what’s your diagnosis?