title: Pigmented basal cell carcinoma developing on the lower extremities--three cases masquerading as malignant melanoma.
abstract: Three cases of pigmented basal cell carcinoma were reported which needed to be differentiated from malignant melanoma based on their location and clinical features. Clinicopathologically, they were characterized by a large number of melanophages in the stroma, blockade melanocytes in the parenchyma, and phagocytosis of melanosomes in tumor cells as well as a large number of intraparenchymal melanophages. Two cases were characterized by the aggregation of melanophages in cystic spaces caused by stellate atrophy.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Egawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arao
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007868:Leg Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology