Basal Cell Epithelioma Among Japanese

Two hundred cases of basal cell epithelioma were found among 851,685 new dermatology patients in 41 university hospitals in Japan during a 5-year-period. Approximately 10% of the tumours, according to the patients' statement, had been present since childhood but this was not fully verified by studying previous photographs of the patients. Recognition of the tumours was made possible because of conspicuous pigmentation of the tumours, which was due mainly to the presence of hypertrophic and melanotic melanocytes in the tumours. Surgical excision of the tumours resulted in a 3-year-cure in about 70% of all cases. Separate cure rates based on the UICC, TNM classification are presented.