Track

Clinical Studies

Abstract

BACKGROUND Colloid bodies (CB) are commonly seen in inflammatory dermatoses and are thought to represent cell degeneration. No studies have investigated the prevalence and clinical significance of CB in cutaneous basal cell carcinoma (BCC). The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of CB in BCC lesions and analyze their clinical associations. METHODS 405 sequential cases of cutaneous BCC from 396 patients diagnosed from 1/1/2023 to 12/31/2023 in our institution were studied for the presence of CB. Only cases of BCC with a single growth pattern were included. Patient age, smoking status, location of the lesion, and personal history of previous BCC were collected. The presence of CB was compared for each parameter using paired T and Chi-square tests. RESULTS CB were identified in 14% (57/405) of BCCs, with 19% (54/281) in nodular, 12.5% (1/8) infiltrative, and 1.7% (2/116) superficial type BCCs. BCC with CB were more common on face/scalp than other sites (66.7 vs 34.2%, p<0.001). Patients with CB were older (median 72 vs 68 ± 12, p =0.04), predominantly male (63 vs.47%, p=0.02), and did not differ in smoking history compared to the control cohort. Patients with CB more frequently had a prior BCC (1.6 vs 0.9%, p=0.01). DISCUSSION Colloid bodies are found in 14% of BCCs, most commonly in nodular type, on the face/scalp, in men, and in patients with a prior history of BCC at other site. These observations suggest the possibility of tumor regression in a cohort of patients that may harnessed for potential future novel therapies.