Basal cell carcinoma of the skin with clear cell differentation: A report of two cases

Abstract

Basal cell carcinoma with clear cell differentiation is extremely rare variant of this cutaneous malignancy. Here, two new cases are described in a 68-year old man arising on the scapula and in a 76-year old man arising on the face. Histologically, sharply demarcated islands consisting of the large cells with clear and focally foamy cytoplasm were found within a conventional nodular and superficial-nodular basal cell carcinoma. In both cases, clear cell population showed no mitoses, low or absent proliferative activity and was immunohistochemically positive for p53 protein. In one case, it apparently stained with alcian blue, but not with periodic acid-Shiff method, suggesting the accumulation of acid mucopolysacharides. Present results are compared with the literature data and knowledge on histogenesis of this tumor entity is discussed.

Keywords

• Basal cell carcinoma; Clear cell differentiation; Histological subtypes