PIGMENTED BASAL-CELL CARCINOMA IN HISPANICS

Background: Pigmented basal cell carcinoma (PBCC) may occasionally be misdiagnosed as melanoma. In the Hispanic population, PBCC is common. Objective: We attempted to determine the prevalence of PBCC in a Hispa nic population. Methods: A randomized, blinded, retrospective study wa s designed to assess histologic slides for the presence of microscopic pigment. Basal cell carcinoma (BCCs) from 30 patients with a Hispanic surname were compared histologically with BCCs from 30 patients with a northern European surname. In the prospective phase of the study, 15 Hispanic and 44 non-Hispanic patients with clinically suspected BCC o r PBCC completed a questionnaire about their ethnic background and ski n type to determine whether PBCC is more common in Hispanics. Results: Pigment was identified twice as frequently in BCCs from patients with a Hispanic surname than in BCCs from patients with a northern Europea n surname. In the prospective clinical study, 66% of clinically diagno sed PBCCs were found in Hispanic patients, whereas only 11% of nonpigm ented BCCs came from Hispanic patients (p < 0.01). Conclusion: In pati ents with a BCC, PBCCs are more common in Hispanics than non-Hispanics . This may reflect an increased incidence of PBCCs in the Hispanic pop ulation.