Biomaterial Database

Pigmented basal cell cancer masquerading as superficial spreading malignant melanoma. 1977

M J Fellner, and J M Katz

A 49-year-old woman of Spanish descent had a pigmented lesion on the thigh present for many years, which enlarged recently. The lesion showed notching and black, brown, and blue colors that led to the initial diagnosis of superficial spreading malignant melanoma. Results of skin biopsy disclosed the lesion was a basal cell epithelioma with large amounts of melanin in the dermis. This report illustrates the importance of considering pigmented basal cell epithelioma in the differential diagnosis of superficial spreading malignant melanoma.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008545	Melanoma	A malignant neoplasm derived from cells that are capable of forming melanin, which may occur in the skin of any part of the body, in the eye, or, rarely, in the mucous membranes of the genitalia, anus, oral cavity, or other sites. It occurs mostly in adults and may originate de novo or from a pigmented nevus or malignant lentigo. Melanomas frequently metastasize widely, and the regional lymph nodes, liver, lungs, and brain are likely to be involved. The incidence of malignant skin melanomas is rising rapidly in all parts of the world. (Stedman, 25th ed; from Rook et al., Textbook of Dermatology, 4th ed, p2445)	Malignant Melanoma,Malignant Melanomas,Melanoma, Malignant,Melanomas,Melanomas, Malignant
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D002280	Carcinoma, Basal Cell	A malignant skin neoplasm that seldom metastasizes but has potentialities for local invasion and destruction. Clinically it is divided into types: nodular, cicatricial, morphaic, and erythematoid (pagetoid). They develop on hair-bearing skin, most commonly on sun-exposed areas. Approximately 85% are found on the head and neck area and the remaining 15% on the trunk and limbs. (From DeVita Jr et al., Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology, 3d ed, p1471)	Carcinoma, Basal Cell, Pigmented,Epithelioma, Basal Cell,Rodent Ulcer,Ulcer, Rodent,Basal Cell Carcinoma,Basal Cell Carcinomas,Basal Cell Epithelioma,Basal Cell Epitheliomas,Carcinomas, Basal Cell,Epitheliomas, Basal Cell,Rodent Ulcers,Ulcers, Rodent
D003937	Diagnosis, Differential	Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures.	Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012867	Skin	The outer covering of the body that protects it from the environment. It is composed of the DERMIS and the EPIDERMIS.
D012878	Skin Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer of the SKIN.	Cancer of Skin,Skin Cancer,Cancer of the Skin,Neoplasms, Skin,Cancer, Skin,Cancers, Skin,Neoplasm, Skin,Skin Cancers,Skin Neoplasm