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A systematic review of basal cell carcinoma on the scrotum-reviewing presentation and identifying challenges in management

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Abstract

Since the scrotum is rarely exposed to sunlight, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) development in this area is an uncommon occurrence. As result, there is a scarcity of research covering this particular presentation, which poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for clinicians. The objective of this systematic review is to provide a thorough overview of scrotal BCC, including a summary of its clinical characteristics, and microscopic subtypes. It also seeks to discuss the many techniques used in the management of this uncommon clinical presentation. Utilizing data from 1957 to October 2023, a systematic review of PubMed and Wiley Online Library was conducted to identify all cases of scrotal BCC with various presentations and managements. A total of 73 patients were included. The median patient age was 65.9 years (range 42 to 87). All studies were either case reports or case series. Our review shows that treatment with Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS), leads to a superior patient outcome based on anecdotal evidence in select cases. To deepen our understanding of Mohs surgery’s efficacy in treating scrotal BCC, it is imperative to conduct more robust research in the form of randomized clinical trials.

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Acknowledgements

Special thanks are extended to Dr. Stephen Flax, MD, for generously providing the clinical image.

Funding

No funding was secured for this study. The authors have no financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey

    Mehmet Ali Demirci

  2. West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lewisburg, WV, USA

    Leo Wan

  3. University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA

    Aileen Park

  4. Brooklyn Campus of the VA NY Harbor Healthcare System, 800 Poly Place, Brooklyn, NY, 11209, USA

    Amor Khachemoune

  5. Department of Dermatology, SUNY Downstate, 450 Clarkson Ave, Brooklyn, NY, USA

    Amor Khachemoune

  6. State University of New York Downstate and Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 800 Poly Pl, Brooklyn, NY, 11209, USA

    Amor Khachemoune

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  1. Mehmet Ali Demirci
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  4. Amor Khachemoune
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Contributions

Study conception and design were by Dr. Mehmet Ali Demirci and Dr. Amor Khachemoune. Literature search, article screening/review, and data extraction were performed by Leo Wan and Aileen Park. Data analysis was performed by Leo Wan and Aileen Park. The final draft of the manuscript was written by Leo Wan and all authors contributed to the revision of previous drafts. The final manuscript was reviewed and approved by all authors.

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Correspondence to Amor Khachemoune.

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Demirci, M.A., Wan, L., Park, A. et al. A systematic review of basal cell carcinoma on the scrotum-reviewing presentation and identifying challenges in management. Arch Dermatol Res 316, 255 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-024-03058-1

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