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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of nonmelanoma skin cancer. It's also the most easily treated and the least likely to spread.
But though basal cell carcinomas are rarely fatal, they can cause extensive damage to surrounding tissue and bone if they're not removed. Basal cell carcinomas also have a high recurrence rate; if you've had one basal cell carcinoma, you have a good chance of developing another within five years.
Most basal cell carcinomas are caused by long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight. Avoiding the sun as much as possible is the best protection. Sunscreen is an important part of a sun-safety program, but by itself can't prevent basal cell carcinoma or other forms of skin cancer.
- Wood GS, et al. Nonmelanoma skin cancers: Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/119479231-3/0/1709/83.html?tocnode=55017273&fromURL=83.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06694-8..50078-6--cesec29_2759. Accessed Feb. 6, 2009.
- Basal cell carcinoma. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/sun_basal.html. Accessed Feb. 6, 2009.
- Detailed guide: Skin cancer - basal and squamous cell. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_is_skin_cancer_51.asp. Accessed Feb. 6, 2009.
- Urist MM, et al. Melanoma and cutaneous malignancies. In: Townsend CM, et al. Townsend: Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: W.B. Saunders; 2007.http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/119479231-5/0/1565/1.html?tocnode=54736195&fromURL=1.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3675-3..X5001-1--TOP_1. Accessed Feb. 6, 2009.
- Burns J. Bartter's syndrome and basal cell carcinoma. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2009. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/119515236-9/801847095/1701/79.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-04134-8..50005-7--cesec92_1598. Accessed Feb. 9, 2009.
- Sunscreen. The Skin Cancer Foundation. http://www.skincancer.org/the-scfs-guide-to-sunscreens.html. Accessed Feb. 6, 2009.
- Basal cell carcinoma of the skin. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/skin/HealthProfessional/page5. Accessed Feb. 6, 2009.
- Ridky TW. Nonmelanoma skin cancer. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2007;57:484.
- Neoplasia. In: Kumar V, et al. Robbins and Cotran's Pathologic Basis of Disease. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/119515236-4/801835407/1249/66.html#4-u1.0-B0-7216-0187-1..50011-0--cesec92_600. Accessed Feb. 6, 2009.
- Arsenic toxicity exposure pathways. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/arsenic/exposure_pathways.html. Accessed Feb. 6, 2009.
- Common questions about diet and cancer. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_3_2X_Common_Questions_About_Diet_and_Cancer.asp?sitearea=PED. Accessed Feb. 6, 2009.
- Food Groups to Encourage. In: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 6th Edition. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office; 2005. http://www.health.gov/DietaryGuidelines/dga2005/document/html/chapter5.htm. Accessed Feb 6, 2009.
- Premalignant and malignant nonmelanoma skin tumors. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy. 4th ed. New York, N.Y.: Mosby; 2004. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/119515236-5/0/1195/157.html?tocnode=51442435&fromURL=157.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-01319-8..50023-6_2588. Accessed Feb. 6, 2009.
