Atypical Fibroxanthoma vs Basal Cell Carcinoma
How to tell the difference — key features compared side by side.
Feature
Atypical Fibroxanthoma
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Category
Pre-cancerous
Malignant
Key feature
Low-grade tumor on severely sun-damaged skin. Typically the scalp of elderly men. Excellent prognosis with excision.
The most common cancer in humans. Slow-growing, rarely spreads, but can cause serious tissue damage if untreated.
Risk factors
Severe chronic sun damage; Age over 70; Fair skin
Chronic cumulative sun exposure over many years (outdoor workers, sun-seekers); Fair skin, light hair, light eye color (Fitzpatrick types I-III); Age over 50, though increasingly diagnosed in younger adults
Action needed
A rapidly growing pink or red nodule on sun-damaged head or neck skin
A pearly, shiny, or translucent bump - especially with tiny visible blood vessels
Atypical Fibroxanthoma
Atypical fibroxanthoma is a low-grade dermal tumor on severely sun-damaged skin, most commonly the head and neck of elderly patients.
Read full guide →Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the single most common form of cancer worldwide, with an estimated 3.6 million cases diagnosed annually in the United States alone. It arises from basal cells in the deepest layer of the epidermis.
Read full guide →Does yours look more like atypical fibroxanthoma?
Quick self-check
Does this look like atypical fibroxanthoma? Answer 2 questions.
Is it a rapidly growing dome on the head or scalp?
Is surrounding skin severely sun-damaged?
Still not sure?
Our full ABCDE checker evaluates 5 clinical criteria dermatologists use.
Full ABCDE check →