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.

Caruncular lesions: A 16-year single centre review in the United Kingdom

BACKGROUND/AIMS

To review the clinicopathological features of caruncle biopsies carried out at a district general hospital in the United Kingdom (UK), and compare with other centres where data has been published.

METHODS

Retrospective, single-centre, observational case series between 2004-2020.

RESULTS

A total of 31 lesions from 31 patients were analysed. 18 of 31 patients were men (58%), and the age ranged from 12 to 91 years. 13 different histopathological types of lesions were identified in our case series, including 9 melanocytic nevi (29%), 7 benign squamous papillomas (23%), 5 skin adnexal lesions (16%), 3 chronic inflammation (10%), 3 epithelial cysts (10%), 1 basal cell carcinoma (3%), 2 malignant melanomas (6%) and l lymphoproliferative disorder (3%). Pre-operative suspected diagnoses were often vague but correct in 12 of 18 cases (67%), where data was available.

CONCLUSION

The uncommon nature and variety of caruncular lesions make the diagnostic process difficult. Our case series is the first reported in the UK, showing a slightly higher proportion of malignant melanomas, in keeping with the population demographics. Excisional biopsies would, therefore, be prudent in the majority of cases to rule out any possible malignancy.

[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.

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.

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.

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.