A MISLEADING SITE OF BASAL CELL CARCINOMA

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is an extremely common malignant tumor of the skin arising from basal cells of the lower epidermis and adnexal structures, that usually occurs on the head or neck. However very rare cases of BCC arising from vermilion mucosa of lip have been reported in the literature, and The exact pathogenesis of vermilion lip BCC is not clear. Here, we report a rare case of a 35-year-old woman with BCC evolving for 5 years and having interested the vermilion mucosa of the lower lip. The diagnosis of BCC was confirmed with histopathological examination. The Tumor was excised with surrounding normal tissue margins and the reconstruction was done by a flap. We believe that the histopathological examination is the only guarantee that allows to recognize a BCC of the vermilion lip which is the usual site of the squamous cell carcinoma , and thus to avoid to the patient a very aggressive surgery with ganglionic dissection.