Pulmonary Metastasis from a Basal-Cell Carcinoma of the Retroauricular Region

Abstract

Basal-cell Carcinoma of the skin is a common facial neoplasm, usually regarded as benign. It is also called basalioma. Distant metastasis is very rare and may involve the brain, lung, and bones. We report a 74-year-old white male who was admitted to our hospital with cough and fever. Chest radiograph revealed an opacity of 2 × 1 cm in diameter in the upper lobe of the right lung. Bronchoscopy and thoracic fine-needle aspiration could not establish a diagnosis. Therefore the patient underwent right thoracotomy and wedge excision of the lesion. Histologic evaluation was consistent with pulmonary metastasis of a facial basalcell Carcinoma. The patient recovered uneventfully from surgery and is well 5 years after the Operation. According to the English literature the median survival of patients with metastatic basalcell Carcinoma is 10 months. The clinical features, pathology, and treatment of this rare entity are discussed.

Key words

Basal cell carcinoma - Pulmonary metastasis - Rodent ulcer - Basalioma