CLINICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BASAL CELL CARCINOMA AT DR. MOEWARDI HOSPITAL INDONESIA

Abstract

Background: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignant skin tumor worldwide, with increasing incidence and limited epidemiological data in Indonesia, particularly in tertiary care settings. This study aimed to describe the demographic characteristics, anatomical distribution, and histomorphological patterns of BCC among hospitalized patients at Dr. Moewardi General Hospital, Surakarta, from 2021 to 2023.

Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted using medical records and histopathology reports of all hospitalized patients with confirmed BCC from January 2021 to December 2023. Total sampling was applied. Variables included age, sex, occupation, education level, anatomical lesion location, and histological subtype. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Ethical approval was obtained from the Health Research Ethics Committee (013/I/HREC/2026), and the study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.

Results: A total of 115 cases were identified, with a mean age of 64.3 ± 11.7 years. Most patients were aged 61–80 years (75%), and females comprised 55.7%. Farmers were the most common occupation (25.2%), and 52.2% had primary education. Lesions predominantly occurred in facial regions (91.7%), especially the nasal (33.0%), orbital (18.3%), and infraorbital areas (12.2%). Nodular BCC was the most frequent subtype (41.7%), while aggressive variants accounted for 29.5%.

Conclusion: BCC predominantly affects elderly individuals with significant sun exposure and lower educational levels. The high proportion of facial lesions and aggressive subtypes highlights the importance of early detection and comprehensive histopathological evaluation in tertiary healthcare settings.