skin disorders
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Symptoms of Basal Cell Carcinoma
There are several types of basal cell carcinomas. The nodular type of basal cell carcinoma usually begins as small, shiny, firm, almost clear to pink in color, raised growth. After a few months or years, visible dilated blood vessels (telangiectases) may appear on the surface, and the center may break open and form a scab. The border of the cancer is sometimes thickened and pearly white. The cancer may alternately bleed and form a scab and heal, leading a person to falsely think that it is a sore rather than a cancer. Other types of basal cell carcinomas vary greatly in appearance. For example, the superficial type appears as flat, thin, red or pink patches, and the morpheaform type appears as thicker flesh-colored or light red patches that look somewhat like scars. In this basal cell carcinoma, a red bump (nodule) begins to break open in the middle. Image provided by Thomas Habif, MD. In this basal cell carcinoma, dilated blood vessels (telangiectases) appear on the surface. © Springer Science+Business Media This basal cell carcinoma is a light red patch that looks somewhat like a scar. © Springer Science+Business Media 