[Adenoid basalioma of the axilla]

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common malignant skin tumor in the elderly. It occurs predominantly in the head and neck region. As is well known, skin exposed to sunlight is the most frequent location, but basal cell carcinoma can arise elsewhere. This report describes a 81-year old woman who developed a basal cell carcinoma of the adenoid subtype in the axilla. Before surgical excision, the lesion was diagnosed cytologically. This diagnosis was confirmed by histology. Cytologic examination of skin lesions whose size and location allow this procedure appears to be the sole conservative means of achieving a presurgical diagnosis. The technique is simple. The morphologic differential diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma is discussed.