Pleomorphic Basal Cell Carcinoma: Case Reports and Review

Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Patient and Physician's Experience

In this article, the first coauthor, a patient with a basal cell carcinoma on her upper lip, discusses her experience with Mohs micrographic surgery for the treatment of the skin cancer. The second coauthor, who is the patient's physician (a dermatologist who shares her last name but is not a relative), diagnosed her skin cancer and referred her for Mohs surgery. The third coauthor, who is the patient's son and not only a dermatologist, but also a dermatopathologist and a Mohs surgeon (and also shares her last name), summarizes the presentation and treatment of the basal cell carcinoma.

Epidermal multinucleated giant cells are not always a histopathologic clue to a herpes virus infection: multinucleated epithelial giant cells in the epidermis of lesional skin biopsies from patients with acantholytic dermatoses can histologically mimic a herpes virus infection

BACKGROUND

Multinucleated giant cells in the epidermis can either be epithelial or histiocytic. Epithelial multinucleated giant cells are most often associated with herpes virus infections.

PURPOSE

To review the histologic differential diagnosis of conditions with epithelial and histiocytic multinucleated giant cells-since multinucleated giant cells in the epidermis are not always pathognomonic of a cutaneous herpes virus infection-and to summarize dermatoses in which herpes virus infection has been observed to coexist.

METHODS

Two individuals with acantholytic dermatoses whose initial lesional skin biopsies showed multinucleated epithelial giant cells suggestive of a herpes virus infection are reported. Using the PubMed database, an extensive literature search was performed on multinucleated giant cell (and epidermis, epithelial, and histiocytic) and herpes virus infection. Relevant papers were reviewed to discover the skin conditions with either multinucleated giant cells in the epidermis or coincident cutaneous herpes virus infection.

RESULTS

Initial skin biopsies from patients with either pemphigus vulgaris or transient acantholytic dermatosis mimicked herpes virus infection; however, laboratory studies and repeat biopsies established the correct diagnosis of their acantholytic dermatosis. Hence, epidermal multinucleated giant cells are not always a histopathologic clue to a herpes virus infection. Indeed, epithelial multinucleated giant cells in the epidermis can be observed not only in the presence of infection (herpes virus), but also acantholytic dermatoses and tumors (trichoepithelioma and pleomorphic basal cell carcinoma). Histiocytic multinucleated giant cells in the epidermis can be observed in patients with either giant cell lichenoid dermatitis or lichen nitidus of the palms.

CONCLUSIONS

Epithelial and histiocytic multinucleated giant cell can occur in the epidermis. Keratinocyte-derived multinucleated giant cells are most commonly associated with herpes virus infection; yet, they can also be observed in patients with skin tumors or acantholytic dermatoses. Cutaneous herpes simplex virus infection can coexist in association with other conditions such as acantholytic dermatoses, benign skin tumors, bullous disorders, hematologic malignancies, inflammatory dermatoses, and physical therapies. However, when a herpes virus infection is suspected based upon the discovery of epithelial multinucleated giant cells in the epidermis, but either the clinic presentation or lack of response to viral therapy or absence of confirmatory laboratory studies does not support the diagnosis of a viral infection, the possibility of a primary acantholytic dermatosis should be considered and additional lesional skin biopsies performed. Also, because hematoxylin and eosin staining is not the golden standard for confirmation of autoimmune bullous dermatoses, skin biopsies for direct immunofluorescence should be performed when a primary bullous dermatosis is suspected since the histopathology observed on hematoxylin and eosin stained sections can be misleading.

AAD/ACMS/ASDSA/ASMS 2012 appropriate use criteria for Mohs micrographic surgery: a report of the American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Mohs Surgery, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association, and the American Society for Mohs Surgery

The appropriate use criteria process synthesizes evidence-based medicine, clinical practice experience, and expert judgment. The American Academy of Dermatology in collaboration with the American College of Mohs Surgery, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association, and the American Society for Mohs Surgery has developed appropriate use criteria for 270 scenarios for which Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is frequently considered based on tumor and patient characteristics. This document reflects the rating of appropriateness of MMS for each of these clinical scenarios by a ratings panel in a process based on the appropriateness method developed by the RAND Corp (Santa Monica, CA)/University of California-Los Angeles (RAND/UCLA). At the conclusion of the rating process, consensus was reached for all 270 (100%) scenarios by the Ratings Panel, with 200 (74.07%) deemed as appropriate, 24 (8.89%) as uncertain, and 46 (17.04%) as inappropriate. For the 69 basal cell carcinoma scenarios, 53 were deemed appropriate, 6 uncertain, and 10 inappropriate. For the 143 squamous cell carcinoma scenarios, 102 were deemed appropriate, 7 uncertain, and 34 inappropriate. For the 12 lentigo maligna and melanoma in situ scenarios, 10 were deemed appropriate, 2 uncertain, and 0 inappropriate. For the 46 rare cutaneous malignancies scenarios, 35 were deemed appropriate, 9 uncertain, and 2 inappropriate. These appropriate use criteria have the potential to impact health care delivery, reimbursement policy, and physician decision making on patient selection for MMS, and aim to optimize the use of MMS for scenarios in which the expected clinical benefit is anticipated to be the greatest. In addition, recognition of those scenarios rated as uncertain facilitates an understanding of areas that would benefit from further research. Each clinical scenario identified in this document is crafted for the average patient and not the exception. Thus, the ultimate decision regarding the appropriateness of MMS should be determined by the expertise and clinical experience of the physician.

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma with 'monster' cells: a mimic of pleomorphic basal cell carcinoma

Pleomorphic giant or 'monster' cells represent a well-recognized yet uncommon finding associated with basal cell carcinoma (BCC), usually of nodular type. We present a case of basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (basaloid SCC) with 'monster' cells that closely mimicked those described in pleomorphic nodular BCC. Clinically, the lesion presented as a fleshy, hyperkeratotic nodule in an 82-year-old woman. Histopathology revealed a basaloid lesion with lobulated borders and focal retraction artifact but a lack of prominent palisading or stromal mucin. There were areas of necrosis and small foci of keratinization. Striking bizarre monstrous pleomorphic nuclei were widely scattered throughout the lesion. Ber-EP4 immunohistochemistry proved to be negative and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) expression was moderate to strong in 70% of the basaloid epithelium. Monster cells have not previously been highlighted in cutaneous SCC or in its uncommon cutaneous basaloid variant. The prognostic significance of monster cells is unknown but, given the relative paucity of keratinization in basaloid SCC, these lesions should probably be regarded as poorly differentiated. We have not previously encountered an SCC that so closely resembles nodular BCC with pleomorphic monster cells and believe that this is the first such report in the literature.

Cutaneous sarcomatoid carcinoma with features of giant cell tumor of soft parts--a case report

We report here a previously undescribed tumor in a 72-year-old patient who had a nasal cutaneous sarcomatoid carcinoma. The epithelial component resembles a skin adnexal tumor, and the sarcomatous component resembles a giant cell tumor of soft parts.

Basal cell carcinoma in childhood: case report and literature review

Childhood onset basal cell carcinoma is uncommon. In addition to occurring in children with albinism, Bazex syndrome, basal cell carcinoma nevus syndrome, nevus sebaceus, radiotherapy-treated cancers, solid organ transplants, and xeroderma pigmentosum, childhood onset basal cell carcinoma has also occurred, albeit less commonly, de novo. We describe a boy with idiopathic childhood onset basal cell carcinoma. Previously published children with de novo basal cell carcinoma were collected from computerized medical literature search (PubMed) and citations from earlier reports. To our knowledge, childhood onset idiopathic basal cell carcinoma has been observed in a total of 107 children, including our patient. Tumors were most commonly located on the head (90%). The tumors are most frequently nodular in appearance (52%) and in histology (at least 17%); however, aggressive histologic variants were observed in 20% of tumors. Basal cell carcinoma in children may be associated with prior sun exposure. The most common treatment is excision, with or without using the Mohs technique. However, 15 of 85 children, nearly 20%, developed recurrent tumors during a follow-up period ranging from 4 months to 20 years.

Emerging dermatologic issues in the oncology patient

The spectrum of skin diseases that occurs in the oncology patient differs somewhat from that seen in other immunosuppressed populations. We review the cutaneous manifestations of invasive mold infections in the leukemia/lymphoma population. Aspergillus mold infections are now the leading infectious cause of death in this population. We also review the pustular eruption caused by a new class of chemotherapy for solid malignancies. An update on cutaneous graft-versus-host disease appears elsewhere in this journal. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas and basal cell carcinomas occur more frequently in the chronic lymphocytic leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma population; this is discussed, as is the more aggressive clinical course of these tumors.