Basalioma

What is basalioma and why is it dangerous?

Basalioma is a type of skin cancer that develops from cells of the basal layer of the epithelium. Another name for this disease is basal cell carcinoma or basal cell skin cancer. According to statistics, this is the most common malignant disease. Of all skin malignant diseases, it accounts for about 75%. Typically, such a tumor appears in old age, but basal cell carcinoma can also be found in children. More often in fair-skinned and fair-haired people, since their skin is more sensitive to ultraviolet radiation.

Most often, basal cell carcinoma appears on the face in the area of the wings of the nose, temples, nasolabial folds, forehead, and cheeks. Basalioma of the scalp and basalioma on the eyelid may occur. Less commonly, it occurs on the neck, body, arms or legs. The tumor has a low degree of aggressiveness, grows slowly and practically does not metastasize. However, in advanced cases, it can cover large areas of the skin, grow into adjacent tissues and even destroy bone structures. Correctly selected treatment allows in most cases to completely get rid of the pathology. And even if a relapse occurs, it usually responds well to therapy.

Causes of basalioma

The main cause of basal cell skin cancer is exposure to ultraviolet radiation on the skin. Most often it is caused by prolonged exposure to the street under the active sun. UV rays provoke the occurrence of mutations in the basal layer of the skin, resulting in abnormal cells that begin to multiply uncontrollably.

Factors that provoke the development of this pathology include:

• contact with carcinogens, for example, arsenic, coal, soot, dyes, resins;
• radiation exposure;
• frequent damage to the same area of skin;
• taking immunosuppressants.

The likelihood of developing basal cell carcinoma also increases when the immune system is weakened. This can happen, for example, when taking immunosuppressive drugs.

Types of basalioma

There are several types of basal cell carcinomas, the most common include:

• Nodular basal cell carcinoma (nodular basal cell carcinoma). It has a round shape, usually pinkish in color, often with spider veins. Most often it is located in the nasolabial fold or in the eyelid area. It increases in size by growing outward. This form occurs in approximately 60% of cases when basal cell carcinomas are detected.
• Ulcerative basalioma. It first develops as a nodular form. But over time, an ulcer forms on it, which can become covered with purulent crusts.
• Flat basal cell carcinoma. It has the shape of a plaque surrounded by clearly visible ridge-like edges. This neoplasm visually resembles psoriasis. More aggressive form.
• Superficial basalioma. It is slow growing and does not grow deep. It can be of different shades from pink to burgundy. It is considered the least aggressive and can “sit” for years without any growth.
• Warty basalioma. It resembles warts or cauliflower inflorescences. Such a neoplasm does not grow inside.
• Pigmented basal cell carcinoma. In this case, pigment spots appear along the edges of the basalioma.
• Penetrating form. The surrounding tissues are quickly involved in the process. It usually occurs in areas where there have been repeated injuries to the skin.

What does basal cell carcinoma look like at the initial stage?

The appearance of basal cell skin cancer may vary depending on the type. Most often, the initial stage of basalioma looks like a small nodule up to 4 millimeters in diameter, which can be of different colors, usually reddish or pinkish. It can have a shiny surface, convex or flat. At first it resembles a regular pimple, but over time it acquires the distinctive features of a neoplasm.

Later symptoms and signs of basal cell carcinoma

As basal cell carcinoma develops, it begins to grow laterally. It can become crusty, ulcerate, bleed, or peel off. At this stage, a person usually realizes that this is not an ordinary pimple, but some kind of skin problem, and consults a doctor.

If the tumor is actively growing, itching and pain may also occur.

In severe and advanced forms, the disease grows into the subcutaneous tissues, involves tendons, bones, and the process may involve the ears, brain, and eyes.

Stages of basalioma

There are four stages of basalioma:

• 1st stage is a small neoplasm up to 2 centimeters;
• 2nd stage – the tumor reaches a size of up to 5 centimeters;
• 3rd stage – basalioma more than 5 centimeters;
• 4th stage – multiple ulcers, growths, the tumor grows into other tissues, cartilage and bone tissue may be affected.

Diagnosis of basalioma

If suspicious growths appear on the skin, it is necessary to contact a dermatologist as soon as possible. Usually, a doctor determines basal cell skin cancer by its external characteristics, and for this it is enough to conduct a dermatoscopy. Using a special dermatoscope device, the doctor examines the skin tumor, and this allows to carefully examine the tumor, see its structural features and make a diagnosis with a probability of more than 80%. However, cytological or histological examination may be required to definitively confirm the diagnosis. Using histology, the doctor accurately determines the type of cells and diagnoses the type of tumor. For histological analysis, a small fragment of tissue is pinched off from the neoplasm, which is then examined in the laboratory.

In advanced cases, in order to determine how damaged nearby tissues are, doctors may prescribe an X-ray, computed tomography or MRI.

Treatment methods for basal cell carcinoma

Today, there are various ways to treat basalioma. Doctors select tactics to combat the disease individually, depending on the location of the tumor, its size, histological subtype, and the degree of involvement of surrounding tissues.

Non-surgical methods for removing basal cell carcinoma

• Electrocoagulation. Burns the affected area using current. However, this procedure usually leaves a scar.
• Cryodestruction of basalioma. The carcinoma is frozen by exposing it to liquid nitrogen. This allows the doctor to remove small superficial tumors. The method is well suited if basal cell carcinoma is diagnosed on the face, since it leaves virtually no scars.
• Phototherapy. In photodynamic treatment of carcinoma, before the procedure, the doctor applies a certain ointment to the tumor, after which it is exposed to a special lamp. This leads to the death of neoplasm cells and does not leave scars.
• Laser removal of basalioma. Vaporization of neoplasm with laser.
• Radiation therapy for basalioma. It can be prescribed before surgery to reduce the size of the tumor. Or it is carried out after removal of the tumor, in this case the purpose of the treatment is to destroy single cancer cells that could remain after surgery. For skin cancers, doctors often use electron beam therapy.
• Chemotherapy. This method of treatment for basal cell carcinoma is not often used. If necessary, local chemotherapy in the form of creams and ointments is generally prescribed. Thus, chemotherapy drugs act directly in the area of the tumor and do not have a negative effect on the rest of the body.
• Use of immune response modifiers. In some forms, for example, in superficial basal cell carcinomas in the early stages, drugs for basal cell carcinoma in the form of creams and ointments, in which the active ingredients are immune response modifiers, can be quite effective. They activate local immunity, which helps destroy tumor cells.
• Targeted therapy. In some cases, for large areas of damage or for relapses, targeted drugs may be prescribed, the action of which is directed specifically at tumor cells.
• Cancer vaccines. They may also be used in the treatment of skin cancer. With their use, the patient’s immune system is activated. After the introduction of a cancer vaccine, the body’s own immune cells begin to perceive malignant cells as a threat to the body and attack them. This method is now increasingly used in the fight against cancer and shows effectiveness in many types of cancer.

Surgical removal of basalioma

Surgical removal of basal cell carcinoma is performed if gentler methods are not suitable.

Traditional surgery involves removing basal cell carcinoma using a scalpel. Before the procedure, local anesthesia is performed – the doctor injects the operation area with an anesthetic. During surgery, the doctor completely removes the tumor and a small area of healthy tissue (about 5 mm) from all sides. This is necessary so that there are no cancer cells left from which carcinoma could grow again. After which the surgeon sews the edges.

Curettage and fulguration are another type of surgical intervention. In this case, the doctor first scrapes out the tumor completely using a curette. And then treats the operation area using an electrode.

Mohs surgical removal is a technique in which removal is carried out under microscopic control. In this case, the tissues adjacent to the tumor are excised in small fragments and immediately undergo microscopic control. The procedure is repeated until there are no abnormal cells in the samples. This operation may take longer, but its advantage is that minimal healthy tissue will be removed.

Basal cell skin cancer – prognosis. How long do people live after basal cell carcinoma?

In most cases, the prognosis for basal cell carcinoma is positive. Treatment allows the tumor to be completely removed. Approximately 25% of cases may recur within five years, so those diagnosed with this disease should be examined annually by a dermatologist after recovery.

Recurrent tumors also respond well to treatment; in most cases, they do not pose a threat to life and do not affect its duration. A threat to life can arise only in the later stages, when cancer cells grow into the bones, eyes, and meninges. Therefore, it is very important to promptly diagnose and properly treat skin basal cell carcinoma. The MedTour coordinator will help you get to a clinic where the best oncologists-dermatologists consult and choose the optimal treatment taking into account the characteristics of your disease.

Prevention of basalioma

To prevent the occurrence of basal cell carcinoma, doctors recommend:

• Avoid bright sun, if necessary, apply sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
• Do not overuse visits to the solarium.
• Try not to come into contact with substances that may have a carcinogenic effect.
• Lead a healthy lifestyle to maintain a healthy immune system.

If a person has already had basal cell carcinoma, they should be checked regularly by a doctor after treatment. Also, a good preventive method would be the use of a cancer vaccine, which will protect against relapse of basal cell carcinoma.

Interested in learning more about how vaccines can help fight cancer? The MedTour coordinator will give you a free consultation, tell you about the principles of vaccination, the opportunities it provides, and the clinics where it can be done.

The best clinics for the treatment of basalioma

Despite the fact that this type of cancer is not the most aggressive, it is better to treat it in good clinics that use modern equipment and the latest techniques for diagnosing and treating skin cancer. The MedTour platform presents leading medical institutions for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma from around the world: Germany, Turkey, Israel, Italy, Georgia, South Korea and others. We cooperate with these clinics and will help you organize a trip to them for treatment.

You can learn about treatment options for basal cell skin cancer in different countries, the cost of various types of therapy and other nuances of traveling abroad for treatment from our coordinating doctor. Call us or fill out the contact form to get answers to your questions.

The best doctors for the treatment of basalioma

MedTour works with the best doctors in the field of treatment of malignant skin diseases. We will help you find an experienced dermatologist-oncologist who will select the most appropriate treatment so that you can get rid of basal cell carcinoma as quickly as possible.

Would you like to know more? Leave a request on our website. The MedTour coordinator doctor will contact you, provide free advice on all current issues and help you choose a good specialist.

Published: 31.08.2023

Updated: 11.10.2023

Medical author, Medical editor:

Natalia Segen

Medical author, Medical editor:

Olena Kursabaieva