Basal cell carcinoma of the genitalia

Tumours and inflammatory lesions of the anal canal and perianal skin revisited: an update and practical approach

Tumours of the anal and perianal region are relatively rare, and clinically often interpreted as innocuous lesions, leading to frequent delays in diagnosis and adequate treatment. Although squamous cell neoplasia represents the most common entity encountered in this anatomically complex area, many conditions, both neoplastic and inflammatory, may occur. Adding to the challenge of correct diagnosis and patient management, recent years have seen major updates in the terminology of squamous cell neoplasia, created to reflect advances in our understanding of the role of human papilloma virus and unify previous terminologies used for different sites in the anogenital tract. However, squamous cell neoplasia in the anal canal and perianal region may differ in terms of histology, biological behaviour, staging and treatment. The aim of this review is to present an overview of neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions that may be seen in this area, an update on important developments and terminology, potential pitfalls that may be encountered in routine pathology practice and a practical approach on how to resolve these issues.

Vulvar basal cell carcinoma: report of a case involving the mucosa and review of the literature

We report the case of woman who presented a vulvar basal cell carcinoma (BCC) on the inner part of the labium majus, treated with local resection. Vulvar BCC is a rare cancer but can be long misdiagnosed due to a non-specific presentation. Though even rarer, BCC involving the mucosal side of the labium majus has to be considered in the differential diagnosis of the vulvar tumors. A complete excision with free margins is the treatment most recommended. Other recommendations include the early identification of aggressive subtypes, which carry a greater risk of recurrence and spreading potential as well as a long-term follow-up with exhaustive muco-cutaneous examination.

Vulvar basal cell carcinoma in China: a 13-year review

OBJECTIVE

We conducted a 12-year retrospective review of vulvar basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in a Chinese population.

STUDY DESIGN

Medical records and histopathologic reports were examined from 5 major Hospitals in Hong Kong to list all patients diagnosed with vulvar BCC. Clinical data and histologic materials were reviewed.

RESULTS

Sixteen vulvar BCCs were diagnosed. Most of them were pigmented. They were removed by simple excision or wide local excision. All the carcinomas were identified in the reticular dermis. The predominant histologic pattern was nodular, which may be mistaken as adenoid cystic carcinoma.

CONCLUSION

The high proportion of pigmented vulvar BCCs suggested that biopsy should be performed for any pigmented lesion in a Chinese patient. The BCCs are superficial and tissue-preserving treatment approach is recommended. The tumor depth estimation is difficult and intraoperative frozen section consultation may be helpful. Formal histopathologic assessment should be used to reach an objective diagnosis.

Human papillomavirus infection and tumours of the anal canal: correlation of histology, PCR detection in paraffin sections and serology

Human papillomavirus infection is an important etiological factor in squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA). Different histological variants of anal carcinomas displaying squamous differentiation, previously classified as separate tumours, were recently reclassified as SCCA by the WHO. In our recent study the presence of HPV was detected by PCR in biopsy specimens of 42 different anal tumours, including SCCA and its histological variants (n=22), adenocarcinomas (n=5), tubulovillous adenomas (n=5) and anal condylomas (n=10). HR HPV16 (high risk - HR) was detected in 18 of SCCA specimens (81.8%). All histological variants, i.e. tumours with basaloid, squamous and mixed histological patterns, were represented among the HPV-positive cancers. Four tumours (18.2%) were HPV negative. Low-risk (LR) HPV types were not detected within the SCCA group. HPV16 was identified in one adenocarcinoma, while four cases were HPV negative. Two adenomas showed presence of HPV16; one showed simultaneous positivity for HPV33. The remaining three tumours were HPV negative. Seven anal condylomas (70%) were LR HPV 6 and/or 11 positive, while three were HPV negative. The presence of HR HPV types was not observed in anal condylomas. Our results provide further evidence in support of the etiological role of HR HPV infection in the development of SCCA regardless of its histological appearance.

Polypoid Basal cell carcinoma on the perianal region: a case report and review of the literature

We report the case of an 88-year-old Japanese woman with polypoid BCC on the perianal region. The basaloid, solid aggregations of BCC were limited to the upper to middle part of the polypoid area. A review of the English and Japanese literature that excluded cases of fibroepithelioma of Pinkus found 21 total cases in which the polypoid BCC could be recognized as a variant of nodular BCC. The following points were used to categorize the lesions: 1) characteristic polypoid appearance that often mimics clinically benign or malignant adnexal neoplasms, melanocytic nevus, or malignant melanoma; 2) the peculiar favorable locations such as scalp (23.8% of the 21 cases), genital area (23.8% of the cases), and back-buttock areas (19% of the cases). These areas suggest that etiologic factors other than ultraviolet radiation exposure are involved in such cases. These characteristic locations may also be the main reason why fibroepithelioma of Pinkus type BCCs frequently manifest with a polypoid appearance, because these types of BCCs also have similar preferred sites such as the back-buttock and genital areas. Polypoid BCCs appear to affect more women than men than do nodular BCCs (7 men and 14 women). Although the polypoid BCCs have a large average size, they are not considered aggressive because the lesions are well-circumscribed and the growth patterns are non-infiltrative.

Vulvar basal cell carcinoma: two unusual presentations and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the vulva comprises 2-4% of all vulvar cancers. In general, vulvar BCCs tend to grow at slow rates. Nonetheless, they may be locally invasive and destructive if they are neglected. Eight cases of vulvar BCC metastatic to regional lymph nodes have been documented in the literature.

CASES

Two unusual cases of vulvar BCC are presented. Case 1 is an 86-year-old white woman who presented with vulvar BCC metastatic to the femoral head. This is the first report of hematogeneous metastasis of vulvar BCC. The patient was treated with palliative vulvar resection and radiation to the femoral metastasis. At 6 months, she progressed with multiple bony and intraperitoneal metastases and died with disease. Case 2 is vulvar BCC in a 90-year-old African-American woman. She was managed by wide local excision and remains disease free to date.

CONCLUSION

Vulvar BCCs are rare tumors with an unclear etiology. They can be aggressive and are capable of causing significant morbidity and occasional mortality if they are neglected or improperly treated. Hematogeneous metastasis at presentation appears to result in rapidly progressive disease. The literature regarding the pathogenesis, biologic behavior, and treatment of vulvar BCC is reviewed.

Non-ulcerative basal cell carcinoma arising on the genitalia

We report two cases of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) arising on the genitalia. The first case was a 49-year-old male who became aware of a dull erythematous plaque with a keratotic surface on his scrotal skin, and the second case was a 44-year-old female suffering from a keratotic plaque on her right vulvar region. Neither lesion was ulcerative. Both were resected under local anesthesia following a clinical diagnosis of angiokeratoma for the former and seborrheic keratosis or BCC for the latter lesion. Histopathological study revealed that both lesions were BCC. Many questions regarding the pathogenesis of BCC still remain to be clarified. Because most of the reported cases have been ulcerative lesions and the genital region is an uncommon site for BCCs, caution should be taken in cases in whom a clinically non-ulcerative tumor suspected to be angiokeratoma or seborrheic keratosis arises in this region.