Diagnosing basal cell carcinoma: what is the role for dermoscopy?

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer. Chronic sun exposure appears to be the most important risk factor but there are others, such as fair skin phototype, that play an important role. BCCs usually develop on skin that contains pilosebaceous units, most commonly on the face, but the lesions also occur on locations that are not exposed to the sun. Although it rarely metastasises, a BCC may be locally aggressive and lead to serious morbidity if not correctly diagnosed and treated.