A colonization of basal cell carcinoma by malignant melanoma in situ resembling a malignant basomelanocytic tumor

Am J Dermatopathol. 2014 Nov;36(11):e179-82. doi: 10.1097/DAD.0000000000000047.

Abstract

We report a case of colonization of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) by malignant melanoma in situ (MIS) simulating a malignant basomelanocytic tumor. A biopsy of a pigmented lesion present on an 83-year-old man's scalp displayed intimate admixing of basaloid and melanocytic cells. This seemingly inseparable combination of BCC and neoplastic melanocytes has been referred to as a malignant basomelanocytic tumor. However, our case also displays an adjacent component of MIS, thus favoring colonization of BCC by MIS as the etiology. To our knowledge, this is the third case report of colonization of BCC by MIS resembling a malignant basomelanocytic tumor.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Biopsy
  • Carcinoma, Basal Cell / chemistry
  • Carcinoma, Basal Cell / pathology*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Melanocytes / chemistry
  • Melanocytes / pathology*
  • Melanoma / chemistry
  • Melanoma / pathology*
  • Melanoma, Cutaneous Malignant
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / chemistry
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / pathology*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Scalp / chemistry
  • Scalp / pathology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor