Melanoma Colonizing Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Rarely Described Entity.
Ferhat Özden, İbrahim Serdar Coşkun, İhsan Kasapgil
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
A 68-year-old man presented with a persistent ulcer on the lower lip, initially thought to be basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Wedge resection revealed a 2.2 cm lesion with BCC and malignant melanocyte colonization. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the presence of both components. The melanoma was classified as pT4b with ulceration and perineural invasion, but margins were negative. The patient declined a sentinel lymph node biopsy.
What made this case unusual
The case highlights the rare occurrence of melanoma colonizing BCC, complicating the diagnostic process and management.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should be aware of the potential for melanoma to colonize BCC, necessitating thorough histopathologic evaluation and immunohistochemistry for accurate diagnosis.
Why it matters
Understanding the distinction between collision tumors and melanoma colonization is crucial, as the prognosis is primarily influenced by the melanoma component.