Pulmonary metastases: a rare manifestation of the most common cancer.
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common human malignancy but rarely metastasises. We report on two patients with symptomatic lung metastases and a past history of recurrent BCC excisions. In our first patient, a heavy smoker with multiple lung lesions, histology of a resected nodule was first reported as non-small cell lung cancer but a repeat nodule biopsy a year later was recognised as a pulmonary metastasis from primary cutaneous BCC. Our second patient, a young never-smoker with two previous BCC, was confirmed as having a pulmonary metastasis from BCC on the lung resection specimen. Pulmonary metastasis from an unidentified primary site is a common clinical situation. These patients emphasise the importance of considering the most common cancer as a potential primary.
Joint Austin-Ludwig Oncology Unit, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
Surein
S
Arulananda
Mun Sem
MS
Liew
Shane
S
Battye
Christine F
CF
McDonald
Paul
P
Mitchell
D000328:Adult; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy