Basal cell carcinoma of the scalp in a black patient

Basal cell carcinoma rarely occurs in black persons. When it does occur, it most often involves the sun-exposed areas of the face. Basal cell carcinoma of the scalp often occurs after other predisposing events such as radiation damage, nevus sebaceus, or systemic conditions such as arsenic exposure or immunosuppression. We report the unusual case of a basal cell tumor arising de novo on the scalp of a black patient with none of these predisposing conditions.