Aims: This study aimed at demonstrating whether the histological and clinical manifestations of pigmented basal cell carcinoma are different among those who were previously treated with ionizing radiation for ringworm infection.
Background: Ionizing radiation is known to cause increased morbidity among those who are chronically exposed. Basal cell carcinoma in known to be related to ionizing radiation however, the characteristics of pigmented BCC in relation to ionizing radiation are poorly described.
Methods: The study included the demographics and characteristics of 23 patients with pigmented BCC who were treated for ringworm with ionization radiation and a control group of 21 patients that had not been treated with ionizing radiation. All the cases treated between the years 2005-2015 were included in the study. The data was analyzed with a SPSS program.
Results: Among the patients who were treated with ionizing radiation the percentage of the tumors that were well differentiated was 34.8%, much higher than those who were not treated with ionizing radiation - 14.3%. In addition, the average age for those who were treated with ionizing radiation was 66 compared to 73 in the group that weren't treated with radiation.
Discussion: Pigmented basal cell carcinoma is a rare variant of BCC and it has characteristics that are quite dissimilar among patients treated with ionizing radiation. However, more studies are needed in order to strengthen the results.