Comparison of Demographic and Clinicopathological Characteristics of Basal Cell Carcinoma on the Nose and Other Sites of the Face: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: The clinicopathological characteristics of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in different areas of the face, including the nose, are important and may be different. Accurate recognition of these characteristics may be necessary for the planning and selection of appropriate treatment.   Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on ۳۲۸ patients (۱۳۱ females and ۱۹۷ males) with ۳۷۱ documented facial BCC in the West of Iran within ۲۰۱۳-۲۰۱۸. The demographic and clinicopathological data of the patients in the nose area were compared with other sites of the face by appropriate statistical methods.   Results: Out of ۳۷۱ lesions, ۳۸.۸% of the cases were on the nose, ۷۵.۸% were primary lesions, ۹۷.۸% had no perineural invasion, ۸۹.۲% were nodular, and ۶۵.۸% were of nodular clinical and pathologic type, which were the most common variables of patients. It was revealed that early-onset (p <۰.۰۰۱), smaller size (p <۰.۰۰۱), high-risk pathologic type (P=۰.۰۱), and recurrent lesions (P=۰.۰۱۳) were significantly higher in the nasal BCC. However, there was no significant difference between BCC in the nose and other sites of the face in terms of gender (P=۰.۶۵۴), high-risk clinical type (P=۰.۰۶), and perineural invasion (P=۰.۲۷۵).   Conclusion: Considering the nasal site as an important cosmetic unit, more limitation of the nose in performing any procedure, and presence of the more risk factors in the nose than in other areas of the face, the definite treatment of nasal BCC requires special attention, expertise, and experience.

Keywords:

Basal cell carcinoma , Face , Nose , Perineural invasion