Update on Periocular Basal Cell Carcinoma: Semiological Approach and Differential Diagnosis

Abstract

Introduction: This article is based on a review and detailed study of current concepts of clinical semiology and differential diagnosis related to periocular basal cell carcinoma (pBCC). Objective: To describe the semiological characteristics and differential diagnoses of pBCC. Methodology: A literature review was performed in the ScienceDirect, VHL, Pubmed, SciELO and EBSCO/Medline databases, using the MeSH and DeCS terms carcinoma, basal cell, and basal cell carcinoma, with the Boolean operator AND and the term periocular, in the period 2012-2018. Of the total studies related to these search terms, articles written in French, English, German, and Spanish were selected. The quality of scientific evidence was classified using the Oxford methodology. Results: The semiologi¬cal characteristics of pBCC and its differential diagnoses were described through a flow chart, which allows its clinical identification. Conclusion: pBCC is the most common malignant neoplasm of the eyelid and could be classified, due to its high incidence, as a first diagnostic impression when identifying malignant palpebral tumors. Its early detec¬tion and control of possible recurrences are one of the main objectives of diagnosis and prevention in clinical practice.