The rodent ulcer: Report of two cases

A rodent ulcer refers to the slowly growing, ulcerated, locally invasive basal-cell carcinoma (BCC) which is the most common cutaneous malignancy in Caucasians but is rare in people with dark skin. We report two morphologically different presentations of nodular BCC in Nigerian patients. The first was a large, slowly growing ulcer on the right side of the face which had been present for many years, with the diagnosis not being made despite visits to various health centers, whereas the second was a much smaller ulcerated nodule on the right alar nasi and dorsum of the nose. We highlight the need for vigilance to make the correct diagnosis early and institute appropriate treatment.