HISTOPATHOLOGICAL VARIANTS OF BASAL CELL CARCINOMA: CORRELATION WITH CLINICAL OUTCOMES

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) exhibits diverse histopathological variants, each associated with distinct clinical behaviors and prognostic implications. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between BCC histopathological subtypes and clinical outcomes, including recurrence rates, surgical margins, and treatment modalities. In a retrospective analysis of 200 patients at Loralai Medical College, diagnosed with BCC between 2022 and 2024, tumors were classified into nodular, superficial, infiltrative, micronodular, morpheaform, and pigmented subtypes. Clinical parameters such as lesion size, anatomical location, recurrence, and treatment approach were documented. Statistical analysis revealed that infiltrative and morpheaform subtypes were significantly associated with higher recurrence rates (p<0.01) and required more extensive surgical margins (p<0.05) compared to nodular and superficial variants. Pigmented BCCs, predominantly observed in patients with darker skin phototypes, demonstrated a higher prevalence of nodular morphology and were more frequently located on sun-exposed areas (p<0.05). These findings underscore the importance of accurate histopathological classification in guiding clinical management and prognostication of BCC.