Table 6-5 Pink Lesions: Basal Cell Carcinoma and Its Mimics
fibrous papule
mimic of basal cell carcinoma; skin colored to pink papule on the nose, without telangectasia; may become excoriated
squamous cell carcinoma
mimic of BCC; may also be ulcerated; firmer at edges than BCC
actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma in situ
mimic of basal cell carcinoma, has keratotic scaling
sebaceous hyperplasia
mimic of basal cell carcinoma; yellowish globular papules, often with central dell, on forehead and cheeks; dermoscopy shows telangiectasias that go around sebaceous glands rather than over them as in BCC
ulcerated basal cell carcinoma
non-healing ulcer, resulting in "rolled border"
nodular basal cell carcinoma
pink papule, often with translucent or pearly appearance and overlying telangiectasis; may have focal pigmentation; dermoscopy shows arborizing vessels, focal pigment, globules, and other specific patterns; may have central depression
superficial basal cell carcinoma
pink patch that does not heal, may have focal scaling