Sonographic Characteristics Are Correlated With a Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma Diagnosis

A pathologic diagnosis of superficial basal cell carcinoma (sBCC) is correlated with several ultrasound characteristics, according to results from a recent study published in the Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine.

Researchers aimed to compare the sonographic characteristics of sBCC and nonsuperficial basal cell carcinoma (nsBCC) in 73 basal cell carcinoma (BCC) cases confirmed by surgical pathology. The cases were retrospectively analyzed and divided according to pathologic subtypes into 11 cases of sBCC and 62 cases of nsBCC.

A pathologic sBCC diagnosis was significantly correlated with lesion thickness, shape, basal changes, infiltration level, and distribution of intralesional hyperechogenic spots of the lesions.

“Small lesion thickness, oblate shape, superficial dermal local infiltration, and <3 internal hyperechogenic spots distribution of BCC determined by high frequency ultrasound may positively correlate with [pathologic] diagnosis of sBCC,” concluded the study authors. “This is beneficial for treatment planning,” they added.

Reference
Liang JF, Luo PP, Zhang Y, Zhao G, Zhou M, Wang J. Comparison of sonographic characteristics between superficial basal cell carcinoma and non-superficial basal cell carcinomas. J Ultrasound Med. Published online ahead of print December 13, 2023. doi:10.1002/jum.16174