Cutaneous basosquamous carcinoma infiltrating cerebral tissue

Abstract

Basosquamous carcinoma of the skin is a rare malignancy with specific histopathological features of both basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Some authors believe that basosquamous carcinoma is a variant of basal cell carcinoma, while others suggest that this tumour may behave more aggressively. We present a 44-year-old female patient who was diagnosed with a basosquamous carcinoma histopathologically. She had extensive ulcero-vegetative lesions, involving the anterior half of the scalp, the left orbit and the left side of the face. With this case we aim to emphasize the aggressive nature of basosquamous carcinoma and review the literature.

Basosquamous cell carcinoma in organ transplant patients: A clinicopathologic study

“…3,9,34 Meningeal carcinomatosis 38 and brain infiltration as a result of BSCC have also been reported. 39 Retrospective examination of cases reported as metastatic BCC revealed occasionally pathologic features of BSCC, suggesting that cases diagnosed as metastatic BCC could in fact represent BSCC. 40,41 None of our OTRs with BSCC developed visceral cancers, contrasting with 18.6% of those with SCC 36 ; however, the follow-up period was shorter in the first patient group (3.5 vs 5 years).…”

Dermoscopy of basosquamous carcinoma

“…1,2 Clinically, it may present with a 'rust-red' colour, ulceration and a history of rapid and/or aggressive growth. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] However, the clinical appearance is regarded as nonspecific, as it can mimic a number of benign and malignant skin lesions, such as viral wart, seborrhoeic keratosis (SK), hyperkeratotic actinic keratosis (AK), Bowen disease (BD), BCC, invasive SCC, keratoacanthoma (KA) and even amelanotic/hypomelanotic melanoma. [2][3][4][5][6] The nonspecific clinical presentation of BSC may impede its recognition and lead to inappropriate management with undesirable consequences, taking into consideration that BSC has a propensity for local recurrence and potential lymphnode and distant metastasis.…”

“…Clinically, it may present with a ‘rust‐red’ colour, ulceration and a history of rapid and/or aggressive growth . However, the clinical appearance is regarded as nonspecific, as it can mimic a number of benign and malignant skin lesions, such as viral wart, seborrhoeic keratosis (SK), hyperkeratotic actinic keratosis (AK), Bowen disease (BD), BCC, invasive SCC, keratoacanthoma (KA) and even amelanotic/hypomelanotic melanoma .…”

Aggressive scalp carcinoma with intracranial extension: A multidisciplinary experience of 25 patients with long-term follow-up

“…2,18-20 Treatment with retinoids and interferon has been shown to be of some benefit in sporadic cases. 21,22 Reconstruction of the scalp defect after resection of a large tumour always poses a challenge. The options include local rotational flaps, local tissue rearrangement and vascularized free flaps.…”