Background: Multiple basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) are infrequently seen in patients under 30 years of age. Their occurrence at a young age is often linked to some genodermatosis, including Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome (NBCCS). The exposure to ionizing radiation is also considered to be a predisposing factor in the development of BCCs.
Methods: We report the case of a 35-year-old patient who presented with seven synchronous, nodular, brownish-pigmented BCCs, confined within the radiation-treated cutaneous areas, 15 years after receiving Cobalt-60 (60Co) irradiation for Hodgkin's disease.
Results: On the basis of clinical, radiological, and anamnestic data we excluded a NBCCS, thus proposing irradiation as the cause of the multiple synchronous pigmented BCCs.
Conclusions: Previous therapeutic ionizing radiation leads to an increased risk of BCCs confined to the region of the body to which radiotherapy was delivered. We consider our patient's BCCs represents a late adverse effect of the treatment with Cobalt-60.