Vulvar Basal Cell Carcinoma: Four Case Reports With Immunohistochemical Study. Issue 5 (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: García-de-la-Fuente, Mª Reyes; Santacana, Maria; Vilardell, Felip; Pujol, R. M.; Gari, Eloi; Casanova, J. M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of cutaneous medicine and surgery. Volume 21:Issue 5(2017:Sep./Oct.)
• Page Start: 457
• Page End: 459
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: apocrine glands -- basal cell carcinoma -- cytokeratins -- hair follicle; Dermatology -- Periodicals; Skin -- Diseases -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Skin -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Dermatology -- Canada -- Periodicals; Skin -- Diseases -- Treatment -- Canada -- Periodicals; Skin -- Surgery -- Canada -- Periodicals; 616.5005
• DOI: 10.1177/1203475417712498
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1203-4754

Abstract

Basal cell carcinomas (BCC) are the most frequent tumours in humans and normally appear in photoexposed areas of the skin. It is widely accepted that BCCs originate at follicular stem cells and consequently are very rare in nonhairy areas. Here, we report 4 cases of vulvar BCC, 3 of which were located in a vulvar semimucous area, a nonphotoexposed area, and a nonhairy area. We have determined the CK7 and CK19 profile of all cases; both are markers of simple epithelium with glandular differentiation. Interestingly, all cases were positively stained for CK7 and CK19. Considering that the vulvar region is rich in sebaceous and apocrine units, we hypothesise a glandular origin of BCCs situated in the vulvar region.