Detection of early basal cell carcinoma with dermoscopy in a patient with psoriasis

A 49-year-old man with a history of basal cell carcinoma and psoriasis presented for routine skin exam and psoriasis management. He had multiple erythematous, scaly patches and plaques, originally diagnosed as psoriasis. Noticeably, one erythematous patch had a focal erosion. Dermoscopy revealed arborizing vessels, an erosion, pink structureless areas, and short, fine telangiectasias (SFTs), suggestive of superficial basal cell carcinoma (sBCC). Dermoscopy of all other lesions was consistent with psoriasis, exhibiting dotted vessels on a faint erythematous background. In conclusion, sBCCs may be overlooked in patients with multiple psoriatic plaques. In this case, the lesions were all initially presumed to be psoriasis. After detecting an erosion, the clinician was prompted to inspect further with dermoscopy and biopsy. Suspicion of sBCC was confirmed after visualization of dermoscopic structures consistent with sBCC. We highlight this case to encourage the use of dermoscopy in these patients for prompt diagnosis of BCCs.