STAGING BASAL CELL CARCINOMA:
HIGH-RISK FEATURES

High-Risk Features of the Tumor

Large size: Size greater than 20 mm (2 cm or about 0.8 inch, the diameter of a nickel). This designation applies to tumors on the trunk and extremities

Problematic location:

• On sensitive/mucosal locations (such as the genitals) as well as areas that tend to have lots of sun exposure, such as the central face, eyelids, eyebrows, on or around the nose, lips, chin, jaw, temple, and ear (the mask area), hands, and feet
• On a site that has been previously treated with radiotherapy

Certain symptoms: Causing pain and itchiness (which may indicate neurologic involvement)

Certain tumor subtypes: Ones that have an aggressive growth pattern, which is specific information that should be noted on the pathology report

A tumor that has come back (recurred)

High-Risk Features of the Patient

Immunosuppression: resulting from the immunosuppressive regimens used after organ transplantation, infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or certain blood cancers

The greater number of high-risk features, the more likely you are to have the BCC come back. To see how risk features are integrated into the staging of of BCC, see STAGING OF BCC: A PRACTICAL DESCRIPTION.