title: Two giant basal cell carcinomas presenting simultaneously in the same patient, one resulting in lower extremity limb loss.
abstract: Giant basal cell carcinomas are a rare form of the most common malignant neoplasm of the skin. They are commonly found on the trunk and display a more aggressive behavior, resulting in local invasion and metastasis. Giant basal cell carcinomas that reach a critical size of 10 cm in diameter almost always present with metastases. We present an 82-year-old woman who presented with two giant basal cell carcinomas of critical size-one that occurred on the lower extremity and resulted in limb loss without any sign of metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Berkshire Medical Center, Pittsfield, MA 01201, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mainella
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Majewski
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Latkovich
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Michaels
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000601:surgery; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*