Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 20, 2026
Combining Reflectance Confocal Microscopy with Optical Coherence Tomography for Noninvasive Diagnosis of Skin Cancers via Image Acquisition
Published on: August 18, 2022
Pigmented speckling as a sign of basal cell carcinoma
Leonard H Goldberg1, Robin H Friedman, Sirunya Silapunt
1DermSurgery Associates, Houston, Texas, USA. ggoldstein@kcdermcenter.com
Background:
Basal cell carcinoma may present as a discrete skin-colored papule, which may mimic other common skin tumors.
Objectives:
We present pigmented speckling as a clinical sign for basal cell carcinoma.
Methods:
Twenty cases of basal cell carcinoma with pigmented speckling were collected and their clinical and histologic features were reviewed.
Results:
There were 12 men and 5 women. The patients' average age was 70.5 years (range 33-90 years). Fifteen of the 17 tumors were on the head and neck, and 2 tumors were on the shoulders and back. Clinical examination revealed a "speckled appearance" of brown-black pigmentation within and/or at the border of the tumors. Histopathology showed basal cell carcinoma with melanin pigment (positive for Fontana-Masson stain and negative for Perl's stain) within nests of tumor cells.
Conclusion:
The speckled pigmentation of a basal cell carcinoma is a distinguishing feature, which may be useful in the differential diagnosis of this tumor from other discrete skin tumors.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Skin Cancer
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...
01:19Pigmentation
Melanin occurs in two primary forms: eumelanin that provides black and brown pigment and pheomelanin that provides red color. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale...