PULMONARY METASTASIS FROM A BASAL-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE RETROAURICULAR REGION

Basal-cell carcinoma of the skin is a common facial neoplasm, usually regarded as benign. It is also called basalioma. Distant metastasis is very rare and may involve the brain, lung, and bones. We report a 74- year-old white male who was admitted to our hospital with cough and fe ver. Chest radiograph revealed an opacity of 2 x 1 cm in diameter in t he upper lobe of the right lung. Bronchoscopy and thoracic fine-needle aspiration could not establish a diagnosis. Therefore the patient und erwent right thoracotomy and wedge excision of the lesion. Histologic evaluation was consistent with pulmonary metastasis of a facial basal- cell carcinoma. The patient recovered uneventfully from surgery and is well 5 years after the operation. According to the English literature the median survival of patients with metastatic basal-cell carcinoma is 10 months. The clinical features, pathology, and treatment of this rare entity are discussed.