Differences in age and body site distribution of the histological subtypes of basal cell carcinoma. A possible indicator of differing causes

Abstract

Objective: To assess if there are any significant differences in the sex, anatomical site, and age distribution of patients with different histological subtypes of basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

Design: Histopathology reports were analyzed with respect to the subtype of BCC, site of a tumor, and age and sex of a patient.

Setting: Histopathology reports were reviewed from 1 private laboratory that derived its cases from general practitioners, surgeons, and dermatologists.

Patients: Patients with BCC (N = 3885) for whom case data were received by the pathology laboratory from January 2, 1991, to June 12, 1991, were included in the study.

Interventions: None.

Main outcome measures: Superficial BCCs differed from other subtypes of BCC by occurring more commonly on the trunk and in younger patients.

Results: The mean age (56.8 years) of the patients with superficial BCCs was significantly lower than that of the patients with other subtypes of BCC who were examined (P < .001); the mean ages of the patients with these other subtypes were as follows: nodulosuperficial BCC, 62.9 years; nodular BCC, 63.9 years; nodulomorpheic BCC, 66.1 years; and morpheic BCC, 66.0 years. The majority of superficial BCCs occurred on the trunk and limbs (73.3%), while the majority of all other subtypes occurred on the head and neck.

Conclusions: Superficial BCC differs from the other subtypes of BCC in terms of patient age and tumor site, and these findings may reflect differences in the etiology.