Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome

The syndromic multiple odontogenic keratocyst in siblings: A familial study

Purpose:

Our aim is to demonstrate the importance of postoperative assessment and highlight the need for a lifetime follow-up of the patient and the siblings in cases of Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome (NBCCS).

Materials and Methods:

Three siblings out of which two were of syndromic multiple odontogenic keratocysts, with multiple basal cell nevae were followed-up for manifestations of NBCCS from year 2001 till date. Two of the patients were treated for multiple bilateral odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs). Familial occurrence of the syndromic multiple odontogenic keratocysts was studied.

Result:

Although NBCCS is associated with multiple OKCs, it does not imply that a patient should have more than one cyst at a given point in time, rather it refers to the lifetime history of the patient. Early diagnosis will often make it possible to use conservative therapies rather than complex treatments.

Conclusion:

Recognition of the syndrome permits early treatment in other but possibly asymptomatic relatives. Close attention of the family and past medical history and physical examination will alert the clinician to its presence, allowing for appropriate genetic counseling and serial screening for the development of malignancies and other complications besides OKCs.

Linear unilateral hamartomatous basal cell naevus with glandular and follicular differentiation

Mosaicisms are characterized by genetic or functional differences between > or = 2 cell lines in one person, derived from a single zygote. Of the various clinical patterns of cutaneous mosaicism, linear lesions following Blaschko's lines are probably the most commonly encountered, Several cases of multiple basal cell carcinomas or basaloid hamartomatous lesions distributed in a segmentary distribution and following Blaschko's lines have been described. The various terms of 'linear unilateral basal cell naevus with comedones', 'linear unilateral basaloid follicular hamartoma', 'linear unilateral basal cell naevus', and 'basal-cell and linear unilateral adnexal hamartoma' have been used to define this apparently heterogeneous group of disorders. We report a 66-year-old woman with a linear unilateral lesion that appeared during puberty and that histologically showed an adnexal hamartomatous lesion with multiple superficial and nodular basal cell carcinomas. Focal areas of glandular and follicular differentiation were also noted. Molecular studies from these lesions ruled out loss of heterozygosity or mutations in patched gene.

Odontogenic Keratocysts in Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma (Gorlin's) Syndrome: CT and MRI Evaluation

We describe the imaging findings in a 13-year-old boy with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS). The initial imaging work-up included plain radiographs and computed tomography (CT) of the facial area and mandible. CT detected large expansile cystic changes on both sides of the body and angle of the mandible. When the patient's condition worsened, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to further characterize the nature of the lesions and to rule out intracranial anomalies. We agree with others who have published previous reports that although CT is valuable in elucidating osseous craniofacial anomalies associated with NBCCS, MRI is superior in demonstrating the internal composition and structure of the odontogenic keratocysts that are commonly seen in this syndrome.