title: Giant basal cell carcinoma of the forehead with extensive intracranial involvement.
abstract: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignant skin lesion and is frequently curatively treated with local excision. Improper removal or neglect of BCC is a particular problem for head and neck surgeons. We describe a case of a recurrent BCC that aggressively grew from the forehead skin through the skull and into the frontal lobe. We also present a review of the literature. Despite its fairly benign growth pattern, BCC should never be underestimated, and care should be taken not only in the complete primary excision but also in cancer surveillance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5230, USA.
authors.forename: Ilka Charlotte
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Naumann
authors.forename: Susan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Cordes
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005546:Forehead; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed