Metastatic basal cell carcinoma: report of a case

Although basal cell carcinoma (BCC) accounts for as high as 75% of all malignant skin tumors, its metastatic rate is only 0.1%. Predisposing factors for metastasis are generally thought to be: 1. a head and neck primary BCC; 2. a long standing lesion; 3. deep local invasion with ulceration. This paper presents a patient with metastatic BCC with a history of other malignancies and probable immune system compromise. These factors should also alert the clinician to the possibility of metastatic BCC.