Basal cell carcinoma is typically found in which area?

Basal cell carcinoma is typically found in which area?

• A. Sun-exposed areas such as around the nose and eyes
• B. Palms and soles
• C. Inside the mouth
• D. Under nails

Answer: (A)

Basal cell carcinoma arises most often on sun-exposed skin because UV light damages the DNA in skin cells, especially the basal cells. The face—the nose and areas around the eyes—receives heavy sun exposure over a lifetime, making these sites the classic locations for this cancer. The other sites listed don’t fit the typical pattern: the palms and soles are not consistently exposed to sun, so cancers there are less common for basal cell type; the inside of the mouth is mucosal tissue not typically affected by UV damage in this way; under the nails involve the nail bed with different risk factors and cancer types. So sun-exposed facial skin is the usual location.

Basal cell carcinoma arises most often on sun-exposed skin because UV light damages the DNA in skin cells, especially the basal cells. The face—the nose and areas around the eyes—receives heavy sun exposure over a lifetime, making these sites the classic locations for this cancer. The other sites listed don’t fit the typical pattern: the palms and soles are not consistently exposed to sun, so cancers there are less common for basal cell type; the inside of the mouth is mucosal tissue not typically affected by UV damage in this way; under the nails involve the nail bed with different risk factors and cancer types. So sun-exposed facial skin is the usual location.