Metastatic basal cell carcinoma (MBCC) is extremely rare, with an incidence of 0.0028% to 0.1%. Typical lesions are large, ulcerated, neglected, refractory to treatment and occur more commonly in middle-aged men. Metastases are usually single and to local lymph nodes. Multiple metastases to distant sites are much less common. Certain criteria must be met to diagnose MBCC. A case of MBCC meeting the criteria for diagnosis is reported. The present case is unusual in that the patient is a young woman and the tumour metastasized diffusely throughout the skeleton.
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LoJ.S., SnowS.N., ReiznerG.T., MohsF.E., LarsonP.O., HruzaG.J.. Metastatic basal cell carcinoma: report of twelve cases with a review of the literature. J Am Acad Dermatol1991; 24: 715–9.
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LattesR., KesslerR.W.. Metastasizing basal cell epithelioma of the skin. Cancer1951; 4: 866–78.
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PaverK., PoyzerK., BurryN., DeakinM.. The incidence of basal cell carcinoma and their metastases in Australia and New Zealand. Aust J Dermatol1973; 14: 53–6.
