Multiple nonmelanocytic skin cancers in multiple regions

Verrucous carcinoma arising from actinic keratosis: a case report

Verrucous carcinoma (VC) is a rare subtype of squamous cell carcinoma that commonly occurs in the oral cavity. However, VC of the facial skin is relatively rare. We report a case of a 91-year-old woman with VC of the facial skin in the left zygoma area. She was diagnosed with actinic keratosis (4 × 3 cm) of the same site approximately 12 years previously, but declined further treatment. The mass was excised with a minimum of 0.4 cm from gross margins with the result of free from tumor of all margins by frozen section, allowing for primary closure after skin undermining. Basal resection was performed in the preplatysmal plane. The diagnosis of VC was confirmed by histopathological examination. Postoperatively, the wound healed without incident and with no signs of facial nerve injury. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of VC of facial skin arising from actinic keratosis.

Basal cell nevus syndrome with excessive basal cell carcinomas

Basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS), also known as basal cell carcinoma nevus syndrome, Gorlin syndrome, Gorlin-Goltz syndrome, and nevoid basal cell carcinoma, is a rare autosomal dominant disorder with a prevalence of approximately 1/60,000. A lower prevalence rate of 1/13,939,393 has also been reported in Korea. We report the case of a 40-year-old male patient with multiple black pigmented macules on the face that first appeared when he was a teenager. His clinical features of jaw cysts, bifid ribs, and calcification of the falx cerebri were fitting within the criteria for the diagnosis of BCNS. We excised all suspected macules and sent permanent biopsy. Most of the histological examinations of the biopsy samples taken during surgical excision of the face masses showed basal cell carcinomas. Ten months after the surgery, the patient has remained free from symptoms and is undergoing follow-up observation.

Do Diet and Lifestyles Play a Role in the Pathogenesis of NMSCs?

Background and Aims: Literature highlights the role of risk factors like age, body mass index (BMI), tobacco smoking, alcohol intake and diet in the pathogenesis of several cancer types but little is known for non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC). The aim of this epidemiological study was to evaluate the correlation between modifiable risk factors (BMI, metabolic panel, diet, lifestyle, medical history) and not modifiable risk factors (gender, age) and NMSC development. Methods: From February 2018 to September 2019, 162 patients affected by NMSC were compared to a group of 167 controls. A univariate and multivariate analysis was conducted to elaborate the data collected through face-to-face interviews. Results: While our evidence did not always reach statistical significance, NMSC study group patients exhibited high rates of analyzed risk factors (male gender aging over 55 years, high BMI, reduced physical activity) compared to the control group. Conclusions: Our study indicates that practicing more than 30 min of physical activity daily could be a protective factor against the NMSC onset. Other risk factors were not correlated with NMSC, but more evidence is needed to establish a possible link.

Staged excision of basal cell carcinoma arising from a tattooed eyebrow

Side effects of tattoos can occur due to unexpected body responses. Concerns about the side effects of tattoos are growing concomitantly with the increasing number of tattooed individuals. We report a rare case of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) on a tattooed eyebrow. A 48-year-old woman with no family history or occupational risk of skin cancer had her eyebrows tattooed 6 years prior, and she noticed a black mass on her right eyebrow 1 year before presentation. Staged excision was planned due to the patient’s reluctance regarding the possibility of a wide scar. After the first surgical procedure, a histopathological examination confirmed BCC. Wide excision and primary closure were performed for remnant BCC, and no recurrence was observed. The mechanism of skin neoplasms involving tattoos has not been clearly identified. Unapproved tattoo inks contain carcinogenic substances, and previous case reports indicate that skin neoplasms may differ depending on the tattoo color. Therefore, the carcinogenic effects of these unknown components of tattoo ink might cause skin neoplasms. Accurate component analysis and systematic management of tattoo ink is necessary, and medical practitioners must also pay attention to this possibility because it is easy to overlook tattoos as a causal factor contributing to cancer.