Observation of a unique case of metastatic basal cell carcinoma found by radiographic evaluation in a patient with oculocutaneous albinism.

BACKGROUND

Basal cell carcinoma is one of the more common cancers worldwide; 2.8 million are diagnosed annually in the USA.  However, the rate at which it metastasizes is considered very low, between 0.0028 and 0.5%.  For those rare cases in which metastases occur, approximately one third metastasize to the lung.

CASE: Presented is a 62-year-old Caucasian male with oculocutaneous albinism and a history of basal cell carcinomas occurring in multiple anatomic sites, most recently at the bilateral forearm and back.  Surveillance PET/CT imaging led to the discovery of no less than 30 lung nodules which were consistent with basal cell carcinoma on biopsy.  Histological features were remarkably similar in both the primary tumor and in the metastases.

CONCLUSION

An unusual case of a non-head and neck primary basal cell carcinoma metastatic to the lung was discovered on surveillance PET/CT imaging, in a patient with oculocutaneous albinism.