title: Markedly improved overall survival in 10 consecutive patients with metastatic basal cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metastatic basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a rare but life-threatening condition. Prior estimates of overall survival (OS) from time of diagnosis of distant metastasis to death are approximately 8-14 months. However, these estimates are based on analyses of case reports published prior to 1984.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess an updated OS in patients with metastatic BCC at a single academic institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using patients seen from 1997 to 2011, a retrospective chart review was performed on biopsy-confirmed cases of distant metastatic BCC at Stanford University School of Medicine. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to determine OS and progression-free survival (PFS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten consecutive cases of distant metastatic BCC were identified. Median OS was 7·3 years [95% confidence interval (CI) 1·6-∞]; median PFS was 3·4 years (95% CI 1·1-5·2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that OS in patients with distant metastatic BCC may be more favourable than previously reported.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 450 Broadway Street, Pavilion C, 2nd Floor MC 5334, Redwood City, CA, 94063, U.S.A.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Danial
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lingala
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Balise
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Oro
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colevas
authors.forename: A L S
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy