Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Nationwide Clinicopathologic Study in an Israeli Population

Background: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignancy worldwide, and its incidence is continually increasing. BCC occurs mostly on areas of the body subject to chronic sun exposure in older people. Aim: To characterize the anatomical distribution and properties of BCC in a nationwide sample in Israel. Methods: This retrospective study included histologically confirmed BCC samples obtained from surgeons throughout Israel during the first trimester of 2012. Results: A total of 1,716 BCC lesions were diagnosed during the study period. The head and neck had the highest density of BCC (65.9%). The mean lesion horizontal diameter was larger in males than in females (0.91 cm vs. 0.8 cm; P<0.001). The male sex and an older age were risk factors for lesion ulceration. Conclusions: According to our population-based study, males of older ages are at increased risk of developing larger and ulcerated BCC lesions. The head and neck are the areas most affected. With increasing age, the frequency of upper limb BCC increases in males and on the lower limbs in females. More frequent evaluations on the groups at risk, such as older males, with an emphasis on high-risk areas of the body are recommended.