Primary basal cell carcinoma of the caruncle

Malignant lesions of the caruncle

Caruncle malignancy is rare, but signs of disease can be easily missed by both patients and clinicians. There is significant potential for significant morbidity and even mortality from delayed diagnosis and treatment. Clinical features of primary malignant cancer include rapid growth, pigment deposition, ulcerated surface and bleeding. Malignant diagnoses include lymphoproliferative disease, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, sebaceous carcinoma and malignant melanoma. Increased pigmentation is associated with melanoma, yellow coloured deposition with sebaceous carcinoma and a salmon-pink hue with lymphoproliferative disease. Treatment involves excision with margin control which may necessitate exenteration. Metastases to cervical and preauricular lymph nodes has been reported.

[Primary basal cell carcinoma of the caruncle]

BACKGROUND

Primary basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the caruncle is an extremely rare entity. Overall, only a few cases are described in the literature. With respect to the S2k guidelines on basal cell carcinoma of the skin, the eyelids, eyebrows and periorbital regions are regarded as zones with a high risk of recurrence. Due to its rarity hardly any data are available for primary BCC of the caruncle.

METHODS

This article is based on a comprehensive literature review and a case presentation.

RESULTS

In addition to a literature review this article reports the case of a 58-year-old male who presented at this department with a tumor of the caruncle. The histopathological examination revealed a BCC of the caruncle, which could be completely excised and showed no indications of recurrence in a follow-up period of 6 months.

CONCLUSION

Primary BCC of the caruncle must be considered as a differential diagnosis in the case of unclear caruncular tumors. Moreover, the current data indicate an increased risk of recurrence.

A case of basal cell carcinoma of the nictitating membrane in a dog

A case of a basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the nictitating membrane (NM) in a 9-year-old female spayed dachshund is reported. Computed tomography and resection of the NM followed by cryosurgery was performed. Although uncommon, BCC should be considered as a differential diagnosis for tumors of the NM.

Primary basal cell carcinoma of the caruncle: case report and review of the literature

A case of primary basal cell carcinoma of the caruncle is presented and patients presented in the literature reviewed. Clinical features and outcome of a patient with primary basal cell carcinoma of the caruncle is described. Review of 8 other cases identified through literature search with the keywords of "basal cell carcinoma" and "caruncle" is presented.A 67-year-old male patient presented with a 12 months' history of a lesion over the caruncular region. Incisional biopsy of the lesion revealed primary basal cell carcinoma of nodular type. MRI of the orbit identified extension of the lesion into the medial orbit. The tumor was excised, and reconstructive surgery was performed. The patient declined subsequent radiotherapy. No recurrence was detected during the follow up of 33 months. The current patient and 8 other patients with primary basal cell carcinoma of the caruncle were reviewed.The main therapeutic approach for primary basal cell carcinoma of the caruncle is complete excision with tumor-free surgical margins. Adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy may be administered when deemed necessary.

Clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features of pigmented Basal cell carcinomas of the eyelids

PURPOSE

To describe the clinical and microscopic features of pigmented basal cell carcinomas (pBCC) of the eyelid.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational case series collected at one institution.

METHODS

An analysis of clinical records, photographs, and histopathologic characteristics of 257 BCCs with a review of the literature. The frequencies of clinically pigmented, and of microscopically pigmented but clinically nonpigmented, BCCs were determined. Cytochemical stains (Fontana-Masson, Prussian blue) and immunohistochemical probes (S-100, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor [MiTF], HMB-45, MART-1, CK20, synaptophysin, chromogranin, CD1a, Ki-67) were then employed and the findings correlated with the degree of clinical pigmentation.

RESULTS

Histopathologically, 13 of 257 cases (5.06%) were found to have pigment; of these 13, 6 (all white patients) had clinically apparent pigmentation (2.33%), either focal or diffuse. Eight of 13 lesions developed on the lower eyelids. All stained positively for melanin but negatively for iron. MiTF highlighted numerous melanocytic nuclei in the tumor lobules, while MART-1 and HMB-45 revealed the dendritic shapes of the entrapped melanocytes. There was a subtotal blockage of melanin transfer to the surrounding basaloid cells. Intralobular S-100-positive cells included CD1a-positive Langerhans cells, while CK20 did not identify any Merkel cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Only 1 of 6 lesions was uniformly clinically pigmented, whereas the other 5 were only focally brown-black. The clinical pigmentation was imparted by varying densities and distributions of melanocytes with arborizing dendrites, which were present in all BCCs. Melanophages within the stroma and basaloid cell melanization also contributed to pigmentation. No behavioral or biologic differences in pBCC were documented compared with clinically nonpigmented lesions.

Primary ocular caruncular basal cell carcinoma in a Chinese patient

Although basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common eyelid neoplasm, BCC that originates from the lacrimal caruncle is extremely rare. To the best of our knowledge, only seven cases have been reported and here we report the first documented primary caruncular BCC in an Oriental patient. A 73-year-old Chinese man presented with a telangiectatic, multilobulated, pigmented tumor that measured 5×5 mm, which had arisen from the lacrimal caruncle of the left eye 3 months previously. The patient underwent tumor excision, and histopathological examination revealed BCC. He received adjuvant chemotherapy with intra-arterial methotrexate (30 mg/m(2)). A nodular pigmented BCC recurred in the bulbar conjunctiva close to the original tumor 3 months later, and he underwent a second excision. Bleomycin (8.5 mg/m(2) monthly) was added to the chemotherapy regimen, which was changed to fluorouracil (300 mg/m(2) monthly) 2 months later. The tumor did not recur during follow-up of 22 months. Malignant tumors of the caruncle are infrequent. BCC should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a pigmented caruncular lesion.

Basal cell carcinoma of the eyelid with exceptional histomorphologic expressions

A basal cell carcinoma of the eyelid had unique and potentially confusing histopathologic features. The tumor displayed a carcinoma in situ pattern with replacement of an extensive segment of the tarsal epithelium by neoplastic basaloid cells, a finding to the best of the authors' knowledge that has not been previously documented. Within the infiltrating component of the dermis were classical solid basaloid nests and lobules; they were accompanied, however, by a separate and exceptionally prominent component of duct-like (pseudoglandular) units mimicking a microcystic adnexal carcinoma.

Lesions of the caruncle: a description of 42 cases and a review of the literature

Lesions of the caruncle are uncommon. On account of the histological composition of the caruncle, which includes, in addition to conjunctiva, hair follicles, sebaceous glands, sweat glands, and accessory lacrimal tissue, the caruncle may develop lesions that may be similar to those found in the skin, conjunctiva, or lacrimal gland. Clinical preoperative diagnosis is very difficult and reached only in about half of the cases. The vast majority of lesions of the caruncle are benign, mainly nevi. Reported malignant lesions are very rare but can be potentially fatal. Although malignancy is clinically overestimated, any suspected malignant lesion should be excised and examined histopathologically by an experienced pathologist. This study presents the clinical and histological data of 42 consecutive caruncular lesions processed at our laboratory and reviews previously reported cases of caruncular lesions.

Tumors of the caruncle: a clinicopathologic correlation

PURPOSE

To determine the types and incidence of caruncular lesions and to investigate the correlation between clinical and histologic diagnosis.

DESIGN

Retrospective, observational case series.

METHODS

Records of patients with a lesion of the caruncle that was excised and submitted to our ocular pathology department between January 1979 and May 2005 were reviewed. Lesions were classified by histologic type and correlated with patient age, gender, and preoperative clinical diagnosis.

RESULTS

A total of 195 consecutive caruncular lesions from 191 patients were identified. Twenty-four different types of lesions were identified; the most common were nevi (n = 92, 47%) and papillomas (n = 29, 15%). One keratoacanthoma was identified. One hundred eighty-three lesions (93.8%) were benign, six (3.1%) were premalignant, and five (2.6%) were malignant. Preoperative clinical diagnosis corresponded to postexcision histologic diagnosis in 73 cases (37.4%). Suspected malignancy was a common reason for excision (61 cases, 31.3%), but malignancy was confirmed in only three (4.9%) of 61 cases. Two of the five malignant lesions were clinically thought to be benign.

CONCLUSIONS

We hereby report the first caruncular keratoacanthoma. The rarity and variety of caruncular lesions make clinical diagnosis difficult. Malignancy is clinically overestimated, and some malignant lesions can take a benign aspect, justifying close photographic follow-up of all lesions. Because caruncular malignant melanoma is associated with poor prognosis, pigmented lesions should be monitored carefully. In the absence of clear criteria for malignancy, any change in color, size, or vascularization of a caruncular lesion should hasten excision.

Basal cell carcinoma of the caruncle

An 82-year-old white man presented with a 2- to 3-month history of a lesion in his left medial canthal region. Surgical excision of the lesion was performed, and histopathology showed a nodular basal cell carcinoma of the caruncle. Because of incomplete surgical margins after the initial excision, a second excision was performed, followed by a course of adjuvant radiotherapy. No tumor recurrence was detected in the caruncle after 6 months of follow-up.

Lacrimal caruncle primary basal cell carcinoma: case report and review

BACKGROUND

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a common malignant skin neoplasm. The surface of the caruncle contains sebaceous glands, hair follicles, and lacrimal and sweat gland elements. Consequently, the caruncle may spawn any neoplasm that occurs in the conjunctiva, skin, or lacrimal gland. We report a patient with a primary BCC located on the lacrimal caruncle.

METHODS

An 80-year-old man with a 5-month history of a gradually enlarging left caruncular neoplasm was seen. The lesion was nodular and irregularly brown-black colored, with no involvement of adjacent conjunctiva or skin. He had a history of sun exposure, but no personal or family history of other malignant neoplasms.

RESULTS

The mass was excised completely. Histopathologic examination revealed a BCC originating in the basal layer of the conjunctival epithelium. No tumor recurrence has been noted after 7 years of follow-up. Primary BCC of the caruncle is unusual, and only four cases have been described in the PubMed. BCC should be considered in the differential diagnosis of caruncle and adjacent skin lesions.

Primary basal cell carcinoma of the caruncle with seeding to the conjunctiva

BACKGROUND

To report the clinical and histopathological characteristics of a patient with a primary basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the caruncle with seeding of the tumour to the conjunctiva.

METHODS

Surgical excision and histological examination.

RESULTS

A 60-year-old female presented with a lesion of the caruncle. Clinical examination revealed a pale lobulated tumour without skin involvement. Computer tomography scans showed orbital invasion. The tumour was excised. Three years later a small polypoid tumour developed in the inferior fornix of the same eye. Two and a half years later, the patient developed an orbital recurrence. Microscopically, both neoplasms were composed of infiltrative islands of basaloid tumour cells, scattered mitoses and peripheral palisading consistent with the diagnosis of BCC.

CONCLUSION

This case describes a primary BCC of the caruncle with seeding to the conjunctiva.