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Updated: Apr 16, 2026
Cell Population Analyses During Skin Carcinogenesis
Published on: August 21, 2013
Primary Cutaneous Carcinosarcoma of the Basal Cell Subtype Should Be Treated as a High-Risk Basal Cell Carcinoma
Emilie Bourgeault1, Jimmy Alain2, Eric Gagné3
1Department of Dermatology, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada Em.Bourgeault@gmail.com.
Background:
Cutaneous carcinosarcoma is a rare primary tumor of the skin, characterized by biphasic epithelial and mesenchymal differentiation.
Objective:
Due to the limited number of cases reported, there is no consensus regarding treatment and prognosis. Some authors suggest that cutaneous carcinosarcomas should be viewed as aggressive tumors, with ancillary imaging used to evaluate potential metastatic disease. Other reports demonstrate an indolent disease course, especially with epidermal-type cutaneous carcinosarcomas.
Methods:
We report a case of cutaneous carcinosarcoma, which we treated with electrodessication and curettage following a shave biopsy. The tumor had an epithelial component resembling a basal cell carcinoma and a fibrosarcomatous stroma.
Results:
At 1-year follow-up, our patient did not show evidence of recurrence or metastasis.
Conclusions:
Our case suggests that a cutaneous carcinosarcoma with an epithelial component composed of basal cell carcinoma can be regarded as a high-risk nonmelanoma skin cancer.
