title: Metastatic basal cell carcinoma: review of the literature and report of three cases.
abstract: Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of malignant cutaneous neoplasm found in man. Rarely, however, is it life-threatening or does it metastasize. A review of the literature revealed 138 cases of metastatic basal cell carcinoma. We describe 3 additional patients with metastatic basal cell carcinoma who were treated at the Mayo Clinic during the past ten years. Patients with metatypical carcinoma (basosquamous) were excluded. All metastatic lesions were to regional lymph nodes, and two patients died of their disease. It is important to recognize this rare but lethal condition.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D012535:Scalp; D012878:Skin Neoplasms; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*