BASAL CELL CARCINOMA (BCR) is the most common malignant skin tumor. There has been a marked increase in the incidence of BCR over the past decades throughout the world.

According to statistics, basal cell carcinoma prevails in a solitary form (80-85%) and only in other cases in a disseminated or grouped plural form. The typical localization of the tumor is in open, exposed areas, usually on the head, primarily on the face (nose, nasolabial, periorbital areas, forehead, temples, auricles). Such a superficial, visually inaccessible spread of the tumor, the impressive cosmetic damage it creates, causes aesthetic discomfort to others, and leads to additional psychoemotional suffering of the patient.

Basal cell carcinoma is a malignant tumor that develops from atypical cells of the basal layer of the epidermis and belongs to one of the types of skin cancer. Since the epidermis is governed by the specific structure of the skin, basal cell carcinomas can be localized exclusively on the skin. Basal cell carcinoma is the most favorable in terms of treatment and subsequent survival of a malignant skin tumor. A distinctive feature of this malignant neoplasm is that the tumor does not metastasize, therefore it is relatively well treated.

Basal cell carcinoma does not grow in a capsule, but, without any shell, simply spreads into the tissue, destroying their normal structure. Basal cell carcinoma grows not only in depth, but also in width, which is manifested by the simultaneous expansion of the tumor area and an increase in the volume of damaged underlying tissues. That is, due to the growth in width, the basal cell carcinoma captures new healthy skin areas located on the border with the tumor. And due to the growth in depth, the tumor consistently germinates all layers of the skin, and then subcutaneous fat. As a rule, the external dimensions of the basal cell carcinoma correlate with the depth of its growth in the tissue. That is, the larger the surface area of the basal cell on the skin, the deeper it has grown into the tissue. Despite the aggressive nature of growth, which consists in the germination of tissues with a violation of their structure and function, basal cell carcinoma slowly increases in size, usually no more than 5 mm. per year. This makes the tumor slowly progress.

Externally, a basal cell carcinoma is a spot, mole, or elevation on the skin that gradually increases in size, with a depression and an ulcer forming in the central part, which becomes crusted. When tearing off this crust, an ulcerated bleeding surface is visible. Basal cell carcinoma can be mistaken for a wound, but unlike a true wound, it never heals completely. Ulcerated basal cell carcinoma is formed with a fairly long-term tumor, and in the initial stages it resembles an ordinary outgrowth on the skin or a mole.

Histological classification of BCR:

• A surface multicentric shape;
• Sclerodermal basal cell carcinoma form;
• Fibrotic-epithelial form.

Clinical classification of BCR:

• Nodular ulcerative form (exophytic) - in the initial stages it is a dense small nodule protruding above the surface of the skin. The skin covering the nodule is colored in different shades of pink and red, and is strongly thinned. The size of the tumor slowly increases, the surface of the nodule in the center ulcerates, becomes covered with a greasy white coating, which is replaced by a crust.
• Perforating form (infiltrative) is similar in appearance to the nodular ulcerative form, but the degree of ulceration in the perforating form is much higher and grows much faster. Almost the entire nodule is covered with a crust.
• Large nodular form (nodular, solid) - always grows outward, not deep into the skin. Therefore, this shape is a protruding neoplasm above the surface of the skin in the shape of a half ball, slowly increasing in size.
• Warty form (papillary) grows in the form of numerous dense, hemispherical nodules protruding above its surface. The skin above the nodules is colored in lighter tones relative to the surrounding skin.
• Sclera-like shape (superficial) - grows as a small and dense white nodule rising above the surface of the skin. Gradually, the nodule forms a plaque with thin pale skin, through which the vessels shine through.
• Pigmented form (flat scar) - has the appearance of a dark (brown or black) flat mole surrounded by a towering rim consisting of small nodules. Increasing in size, its central part (inside the "pearl" rim) begins to ulcerate, and then heal with the formation of a scar.
• Surface form (padgetoitic, eczema-like) is a flat plaque of various irregular shapes, colored in various shades of red and pink, surrounded by a roller of small bubbles forming a structure similar to a pearl necklace.
• Cylindroma (Spiegler's tumor) is formed only on the scalp. It consists of a large number of small dense nodules in the shape of a hemisphere, rising above the surface of the skin. The nodes are purple-pink in color, their surface is covered with vascular asterisks.