Basal cell carcinoma in black patients: the need to include it in the differential diagnosis

We present a retrospective study of 276 basal cell carcinomas which we have identified 5 (1.8%) black patients. This finding agrees with the current literature, which states that basal cell carcinoma in the black population is relatively infrequent. Although basal cell carcinoma in black patients is uncommon, it should be included in the differential diagnosis of any suspicious lesion in this population to avoid the morbidity that is associated with a delay in diagnosis. In this study we also present the possible association of basal cell carcinoma occurring concomitantly with a second primary malignancy in this population. In black patients basal cell carcinoma is found more frequently in regions of the body that are protected from ultraviolet radiation when compared to white patients. This leads to the speculation that a different pathogenesis of basal cell carcinoma exists for black patients.