Radiation-induced basal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND The treatment of tinea capitis using radiotherapy was introduced at the beginning of the twentieth century. A variety of cancers including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) are seen years after this treatment. OBJECTIVE We sought to determine the clinical characteristics of BCCs among irradiated patients. METHODS The clinical records of all patients with BCC in a clinic in north of Iran were reviewed. RESULTS Of the 58 cases of BCC, 29 had positive history for radiotherapy in their childhood. Multiple BCCs were seen in 79.3% and 10.3% of patients with history and without history of radiotherapy, respectively. CONCLUSIONS X-ray radiation is still a major etiologic factor in developing BCC in northern Iran. Patients with positive history for radiotherapy have higher rate of recurrence.