CD4+, CD56+ mycosis fungoides: case report and review of the literature.

This case report details an 85-year-old woman who presented with mycosis fungoides (MF), clinical stage 1A. Bilateral lesions on the upper thighs were responsive to topical steroid therapy. Biopsies showed band-like dermal infiltrates of medium-sized lymphocytes with marked epidermotropism, including large intraepidermal lymphocytes with nuclear convolutions, consistent with MF. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the lesional cells were CD56+, but unlike the case in previous reports of CD56+ MF, they also expressed CD4 and T-cell intracellular antigen 1 and did not express CD8. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a case of MF with a CD4+, CD8-, CD56+, T-cell intracellular antigen 1-positive immunophenotype. At 85 years of age, the patient is older than all previously described patients with CD56+ MF. Despite an immunophenotype observed more commonly in aggressive forms of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, the clinical presentation is that of typical MF. The patient presented with limited disease and after 12 months of follow-up has not progressed beyond stage 1A.

Basal cell carcinomas arising within multiple trichoepitheliomas.

Although trichoepitheliomas (TEs) are commonly regarded as benign tumors of follicular origin, the natural history of multiple familial trichoepitheliomas (MFT) and their risk for malignancy has been unclear. We describe a 57-year-old male with numerous skin-colored firm papules and plaques present on the central face since 6 years of age. Recently, some lesions had enlarged and ulcerated. Other family members were similarly affected. Biopsies from multiple lesions showed TEs both alone and associated with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in the same section, suggesting the secondary development of BCCs within TEs. Many prior reports of BCCs arising within TEs in patients with presumed MFT were likely misdiagnosed cases of nevoid BCC. This report is a compelling example of MFT in which BCCs evolved secondarily. Awareness of the potential for the evolution of carcinoma in patients with MFT is important in the management of these patients.

Metastatic basal cell carcinoma: report of two cases and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Metastatic basal cell carcinoma (MBCC) is defined as primary cutaneous basal cell carcinoma (BCC) that spreads to distant sites as histologically similar metastatic deposits of BCC. There are less than 300 reported cases of MBCC in the literature. METHODS: This article examines two cases of MBCC and provides a literature review of risk factors inherent in epidemiology, patient demographics, and the clinicohistopathological characteristics of primary and metastatic BCC lesions. RESULTS: MBCC is a rare complication of BCC with high morbidity and mortality rates. Patients with MBCC often begin with long-standing primary BCC lesions that are either large or recurrent after treatment. Cases of MBCC have a higher incidence of the more aggressive histologic patterns (morpheic, infiltrating, metatypical, and basosquamous). Perineural space invasion may be an indicator of aggressive disease. Metastases often involve regional lymph nodes, lungs, bone, and skin. CONCLUSION: These case reports and review provide important diagnostic and management considerations for primary BCC and MBCC. Early intervention with aggressive treatment measures may improve the prognosis and survival of MBCC patients.

Human case of lobomycosis.

We describe a 42-year-old woman with histologically confirmed lobomycosis, a cutaneous fungal infection rarely reported outside of Latin America. Our case represents the first published report of imported human lobomycosis in Canada and the fifth in an industrialized country.