# Two Cases of Pigmented Basal Cell Carcinoma in African American Patients

## TL;DR

This paper presents two cases of pigmented basal cell carcinoma in African American patients, highlighting the importance of early detection in diverse populations.

## Contribution

The novelty lies in documenting rare pBCC cases in African American patients and emphasizing the need for awareness in skin cancer detection for people of color.

## Key findings

- Pigmented BCC occurs in over 50% of cases in African American patients, compared to 5-6% in Caucasians.
- Early detection is crucial for reducing high morbidity and mortality from skin cancers in patients of color.
- The cases highlight the distinct morphology of BCC in skin of color compared to lighter-skinned individuals.

## Abstract

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cutaneous malignancy, comprising approximately 80% of non-melanoma skin cancers. There are numerous subtypes, including pigmented basal cell carcinoma (pBCC), a rare clinical and histological variant. Skin cancers in African American patients, although rare, still do occur. BCC is an uncommon neoplasm in this population, but when it does occur, pigmentation is present in more than 50% of tumors compared with only 5% to 6% of BCCs in Caucasians. This report presents two cases of histologically verified pBCC in African American patients from dermatology clinics at the Veterans Affairs Hospital located in the Texas Medical Center. With the population of the United States growing more diverse, these cases emphasize the importance of recognizing the nuanced morphology of BCC in the skin of color compared to lighter-skinned counterparts. This is especially necessary, as early detection and prompt management are key to combating the disproportionately high morbidity and mortality related to skin cancers affecting patients of color.