title: Primary Cutaneous Carcinosarcoma of the Basal Cell Subtype Should Be Treated as a High-Risk Basal Cell Carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cutaneous carcinosarcoma is a rare primary tumor of the skin, characterized by biphasic epithelial and mesenchymal differentiation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Due to the limited number of cases reported, there is no consensus regarding treatment and prognosis. Some authors suggest that cutaneous carcinosarcomas should be viewed as aggressive tumors, with ancillary imaging used to evaluate potential metastatic disease. Other reports demonstrate an indolent disease course, especially with epidermal-type cutaneous carcinosarcomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of cutaneous carcinosarcoma, which we treated with electrodessication and curettage following a shave biopsy. The tumor had an epithelial component resembling a basal cell carcinoma and a fibrosarcomatous stroma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 1-year follow-up, our patient did not show evidence of recurrence or metastasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our case suggests that a cutaneous carcinosarcoma with an epithelial component composed of basal cell carcinoma can be regarded as a high-risk nonmelanoma skin cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada Em.Bourgeault@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bourgeault
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada.
authors.forename: Jimmy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alain
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gagné
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002296:Carcinosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009666:Nose / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: basal cell carcinoma; cancer; cutaneous carcinosarcoma; surgery