Abstract

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cutaneous malignancy, with the majority of cases occurring on sun-exposed skin of the head and neck. While BCC of non-sun-exposed skin is rare, cases have been reported that involve the penis, scrotum, and perianal regions. Historically, a multitude of risk factors have been associated with BCC, including ultraviolet radiation, advanced age, Caucasian race, genetic syndromes, and immunosuppression. A retrospective study of 51 genital and perianal BCCs has explored additional risk factors of BCC in non-sun-exposed skin, including a personal history of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), recent exposure to pelvic radiotherapy, and immunosuppressive drugs. Penile BCC accounts for less than 1% of penile cancers in resource-abundant countries. To date, only 28 cases of penile BCC have been reported. They are usually diagnosed at a later stage, leading to a more extensive surgical intervention and a worse treatment-related morbidity. Here, we present an 86-year-old male patient with a telangiectatic erythematous nodule on the ventral penile shaft. His past medical history is remarkable for NMSC of the head, trunk, and extremities. An excisional biopsy was performed, revealing features diagnostic of BCC.  We present this case to add to the sparse literature on penile BCC.