Resident rounds part III: plaque on left areola of an African-American woman

J Drugs Dermatol. 2014 Jun;13(6):767.

Abstract

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cutaneous malignancy, and usually presents on sun-exposed areas of the skin. Unsurprisingly, BCC appearing on the nipple-areola complex (NAC) is rare, and even more so in females and dark skin types. BCC of the NAC is more aggressive than other locations, thus diagnosis and treatment are imperative. We present a case of an African American female with a lichenified, scaly plaque on her left areola that was unresponsive to clobetasol. After biopsy, the lesion was identified as pigmented BCC of the NAC. The patient denied surgical treatment and was treated with topical 5-fluorouracil. The BCC initially resolved but recurred at 22 month follow-up. We plan to treat the recurrence with Mohs surgery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Topical
  • Aged
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / administration & dosage
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / therapeutic use
  • Biopsy
  • Black or African American
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy
  • Carcinoma, Basal Cell / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Basal Cell / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Basal Cell / therapy
  • Female
  • Fluorouracil / administration & dosage
  • Fluorouracil / therapeutic use
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Mohs Surgery / methods
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
  • Nipples / pathology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / therapy

Substances

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • Fluorouracil