Nonsyndromic Multiple Basal Cell Carcinomas

Heterogeneous Skin Phantoms for Experimental Validation of Microwave-Based Diagnostic Tools

Considerable exploration has been done in recent years to exploit the reported inherent dielectric contrast between healthy and malignant tissues for a range of medical applications. In particular, microwave technologies have been investigated towards new diagnostic medical tools. To assess the performance and detection capabilities of such systems, tissue-mimicking phantoms are designed for controlled laboratory experiments. We here report phantoms developed to dielectrically represent malign skin lesions such as liposarcoma and nonsyndromic multiple basal cell carcinoma. Further, in order to provide a range of anatomically realistic scenarios, and provide meaningful comparison between different phantoms, cancer-mimicking lesions are inserted into two different types of skin phantoms with varying tumor–skin geometries. These configurations were measured with a microwave dielectric probe (0.5–26.5 GHz), yielding insight into factors that could affect the performance of diagnostic and detection tools.

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

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.

Multiple nonmelanocytic skin cancers in multiple regions

The most common forms of nonmelanocytic skin cancer (NMSC) are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The growing incidence of skin cancer in the Republic of Korea has sparked increasing scientific interest in these types of tumors. In the case described herein, multiple NMSCs occurred asynchronously in various areas of the body in a single patient. A 67-year-old man presented with an ulcerative lesion on the right retro-auricle and multiple keratinized masses on the back and face. The right retro-auricular lesion was diagnosed as BCC, and the keratinized masses on the patient’s back and face were diagnosed as SCC. He subsequently presented with numerous pigmented skin lesions on the forehead, temple, pre-auricle, neck, right forearm, right hand, and both thighs. One lesion on the neck was diagnosed as BCC, and five lesions on the right hand and forearm were diagnosed as SCC. The patient was also diagnosed with supraglottic SCC and external auditory canal SCC. An otolaryngologist performed radical excision of the primary SCC. Suspected skin cancer lesions observed on the face and both ears were diagnosed as SCC. Patients with multiple NMSCs are at an elevated risk for additional skin cancers, making periodic follow-up important; furthermore, all suspicious lesions should be biopsied.