Basaloid Squamous Cell Carcinoma Manifested as a Solitary Erythematous Nodule

Hong, Jeong Ho; Kim, Jeong Eun; Ko, Joo Yeon; Ro, Young Suck

Abstract

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) is a rare malignancy, which has a predilection for the upper aerodigestive tract. A 78-year-old man presented with solitary erythematous nodule on the right neck. The tumor mass was rapidly enlarged for last 5 months and firmly attached to deep soft tissue. Neck computed tomography showed enhanced density in vallecular region and enlarged cervical lymph nodes. Wide excision of the tongue base with modified lymph node dissection, including the solitary erythematous nodule, was performed. Histopathologically, the tongue base and cutaneous lesion displayed closely packed basaloid cells with comedonecrosis and squamous eddy formation. The cells demonstrate a high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio and abundant mitotic figures. Staining for p63, cytokeratin 5 (CK5) demonstrated diffuse uptake within the tumor and CD56 stain was negative. We diagnosed this case as the first Korean case of metastatic cutaneous BSCC.