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Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Cell Population Analyses During Skin Carcinogenesis
Published on: August 21, 2013
Pediatric basal cell carcinoma: case reports and literature review
Philip A Efron1, Mike K Chen, Frederick L Glavin
1Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, Box 100286, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
Insights
Pediatric basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is rare and often missed, delaying treatment. Increased caregiver awareness of childhood BCC can speed diagnosis and genetic syndrome evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Pediatric Oncology
- Genetics
Background:
- Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is uncommon in children, often associated with genetic syndromes.
- Diagnosis is typically confirmed by biopsy, but physician suspicion can be low in pediatric cases.
- Delayed diagnosis can impede timely treatment and necessary genetic evaluations.
Observation:
- This study presents three pediatric cases of basal cell carcinoma.
- A literature review on childhood BCC was conducted.
- Cases highlight the challenges in diagnosing BCC in young patients.
Findings:
- Pediatric BCC often occurs in children with underlying genetic conditions.
- Low physician suspicion can lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment.
- Early recognition of BCC in children is crucial.
Implications:
- Increased awareness among pediatric healthcare providers can expedite BCC diagnosis and treatment.
- Prompt diagnosis facilitates evaluation for associated genetic syndromes.
- Improved knowledge of pediatric BCC can enhance patient outcomes and management.
Abstract:
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a rare disease in the pediatric population that usually presents in children with predisposing genetic conditions. It is often diagnosed on final pathology of an excisional biopsy, and the treatment may be delayed in younger populations because of a physician's low index of suspicion. Increased knowledge of BCC by pediatric caregivers would expedite definitive therapy for childhood BCC as well as any necessary evaluation by subspecialists for predisposing syndromes. We report 3 cases of BCC in pediatric patients and review the literature concerning BCC in children.
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