Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers of the Fronto-Temporal Area Preferentially Localize in the Proximity of Arterial Blood Vessels

• Published in: Dermatology (Basel) Vol. 233; no. 2-3; p. 199
• Main Authors: Kuonen, François, Gilliet, Michel, Perrier, Patrick
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 01.01.2017
• Subjects: Arteries - anatomy & histology; Arteries - diagnostic imaging; Carcinoma, Basal Cell - diagnostic imaging; Carcinoma, Basal Cell - pathology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - diagnostic imaging; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Facial Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Facial Neoplasms - pathology; Female; Forehead - blood supply; Humans; Male; Skin Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Skin Neoplasms - pathology; Colocalization; Squamous cell carcinoma; Basal cell carcinoma; Face; Arteries
• ISSN: 1421-9832
• DOI: 10.1159/000468537

Squamous cell carcinomas and basal cell carcinomas are both induced by chronic UV exposure. However, their predilection for specific areas of the face remains unexplained. Regional factors such as arterial blood flow may explain specific tumor localization. To determine whether in the fronto-temporal area of the face there is a preferential localization of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) at sites of arterial blood vessels. Twenty-two patients with NMSC of the fronto-temporal area were selected for this study. The clinical tumor margins were demarked based on clinical examination. Arterial colocalization was determined using both sonography and histological analysis. Echo-Doppler analysis revealed the colocalization of NMSC with an arterial branch in 59% of the patients. Histologically, colocalization between NMSC and artery was found in 68% of the patients. When combining echo-Doppler and histological results, colocalization of NMSC and arteries were found in 82% of the patients. In this study, we found an unexpectedly high colocalization of NMSC with arterial branches in the fronto-temporal area of the face. These results suggest that in addition to UV exposure, pulsatile arterial blood flow may represent an additional factor determining the precise facial localization of NMSC.