Detection of Basal Cell Carcinoma–a Guide Line for General Practitioners in Dentistry

Basal cell carcinoma or BCC, is a malignant epithelial tumor of the skin, usually seen in the head and neck. Most BCCs are slowly growing and behave in a relatively benign, nonaggressive fashion, but a few of them grow rapidly and infiltrates the structures beneath the skin. Because dentists routinely evaluate the head and neck region, this review will help and guide the oral health care providers to diagnose basal cell carcinoma at an initial stage and provide early treatment by referring them to oral and maxillofacial surgeons, hence reducing the morbidity rate and treatment cost. A literature search using MEDLINE, accessed through the National Library of Medicine Pub Med interface, for articles relating to Basal cell carcinoma etiological factors, clinical features and its diagnosis written in English language were accessed. This study has a specific focuson early detection of BCC which is mostly located in head and neck region. Theskin tumors which are located in other part of the body were excluded from this study. Studies describing cohort, case series and miscellaneous clinical reports were retrieved and evaluated from 1993 to 2013.