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