Basal cell carcinomas of the areola-nipple complex: case reports and review of the literature

Two white men 57 and 39 years old, and a 47-year-old white woman were seen with slowly developing papulo-nodular lesions of the areola-nipple complex. None of the patients presented with regional lymphadenopathy, history of trauma, or relevant sun-exposure. After excison of the mass, the histologic diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma was made. At two years of follow-up, no recurrence was evident. The low incidence of basal cell carcinoma in this particular site allows us to consider the areola-nipple complex location as unusual. Moreover, literature reports do not suggest that these BCCs have an increased potential for malignancy. The treatment options depend on the extension of the tumor and on the possible involvement of the areola-nipple complex and mammary tissue.