Pigmented basal cell carcinoma

by Jason Wasserman MD PhD FRCPC
August 3, 2022

What is pigmented basal cell carcinoma?

Pigmented basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a type of skin cancer. The tumour is made up of specialized basal cells that are normally found in a part of the skin called the epidermis. This type of cancer is called “pigmented” because a pigment called melanin is found throughout the tumour. It is the melanin pigment that gives the tumour its dark colour.

What causes pigmented basal cell carcinoma?

Like other types of BCC, pigmented basal cell carcinoma is associated with long-term excessive exposure to the sun or other sources of UV radiation (such as tanning beds). Severe sunburns, especially at a young age, increase the risk of developing BCC.

What are the symptoms of pigmented basal cell carcinoma?

Pigmented BCC may not cause any symptoms but can be seen as a round, dark-coloured growth. Because of its dark colour, pigmented BCC can look very similar to another type of skin cancer called melanoma.

Where on the body is pigmented basal cell carcinoma normally found?

Most pigmented BCCs are found in the head and neck. However, any sun-exposed area of skin can be affected.

How is the diagnosis of pigmented basal cell carcinoma made?

The diagnosis can be made after a small piece of the tumour is removed in a procedure called a biopsy or after the entire tumour is removed in a procedure called an excision.

How is pigmented basal cell carcinoma treated?

The recommended treatment for pigmented BCC is surgically removing the entire tumour.

Can pigmented basal cell carcinoma spread to other parts of the body?

Like all types of BCC, pigmented BCC rarely spreads to other parts of the body such as lymph nodes or the lungs.

What does the depth of invasion mean?

Pigmented BCC starts in a layer of tissue at the surface of the skin called the epidermis. The layers below the epidermis are called the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Pathologists use the term depth of invasion to describe how far the cancer cells have spread from the epidermis into the layers of tissue below (the dermis and subcutaneous tissue). The depth of invasion is important because tumours that grow deeper into the dermis are more likely to regrow after treatment. For skin tumours, the depth of invasion is measured from the surface of the skin to the deepest point of invasion. Some pathology reports describe the depth of invasion as tumour thickness.

What is perineural invasion?

Perineural invasion means that cancer cells were seen attached to a nerve. Nerves are found all over the body and they are responsible for sending information (such as temperature, pressure, and pain) between your body and your brain. Perineural invasion is important because cancer cells that have become attached to a nerve can spread into surrounding tissues by growing along the nerve. This increases the risk that the tumour will regrow after treatment. Pigmented BCC is less likely than other types of BCC to show perineural invasion.

What is lymphovascular invasion?

Lymphovascular invasion means that cancer cells were seen inside of a blood vessel or lymphatic vessel. Blood vessels are long thin tubes that carry blood around the body. Lymphatic vessels are similar to small blood vessels except that they carry a fluid called lymph instead of blood. Lymphovascular invasion is important because cancer cells can use blood vessels or lymphatic vessels to spread to other parts of the body such as lymph nodes or the lungs. Pigmented BCC very rarely shows lymphovascular invasion. However, when found it is associated with a higher risk that the cancer cells will spread to lymph nodes.

What is a margin?

A margin is a rim of normal tissue that surrounds a tumour and is removed with the tumour at the time of surgery. The margins are usually only described in a pathology report after an excision has been performed to remove the tumour. Margins are often not described after a biopsy.

When examining pigmented BCC under the microscope, a margin is considered positive when there is no distance between the cancer cells and the cut edge of the tissue. A margin is called negative when there are no cancer cells at the cut edge of the tissue. A positive margin is associated with a higher risk that the tumour will regrow in the same site after treatment.