Multiple non-syndromic basal cell carcinoma with the chest as primary site and lung metastases: A rare case

Abstract

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in humans, usually affecting elderly Caucasian men and skin regions mostly exposed to the sun, that rarely metastasizes. We report an unusual and aggressive case of multiple, non-syndromic metastatic BCC with an uncommon primary site in the chest and pulmonary metastases, treated successfully with surgery and vismodegib. A 51-year-old woman presented with a large pigmentary lesion of the chest, close to the sternum. She had the lesion for > 25 years and lately noticed multiple facial lesions. The diagnosis of multiple BCC was suspected and a punch biopsy of the primary lesion was performed. Diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemistry (BerEp4+, EMA− phenotype). After excision, staging with a thorax computed tomography scan revealed metastatic micro-nodules in the left lung, confirmed histologically after video-assisted thoracic surgical biopsy. Adjuvant chemotherapy with vismodegib was proposed and administered. At 30 days follow-up, thorax computed tomography scan was unaltered and her facial lesions showed significant regression. Although prognosis remains poor, early diagnosis and prompt management complimented by novel biological agents, like vismodegib, targeting disease pathogenesis, seems to bring promising results.

Keywords

• basal cell carcinoma
• non-syndromic
• skin cancer
• lung metastases
• vismodegib