Lung metastasis of basal cell carcinoma on anterior chest wall: A rare case report

Introduction: Metastasis of primary basal cell carcinoma (BCC) on thoracic wall is rarely reported in literatures. Metastasis of cancer to the lung is suggested of hematogenous spread to the lung. We reported the only case of metastatic BCC encountered in Dr. Moewardi Hospital Surakarta.

Case: A 62-year-old female patient was referred to our hospital with a recurrent lump on the anterior part of her chest accompanied by radiating pain to the back lasting for about a year. Previously she had undergone surgery, but the lump regrew on the similar location. Histopathology finding revealed infiltrating BCC. Chest radiograph showed miliary type pulmonal metastasis. Contrast CT-Scan imaging revealed a malignant solid mass on the anterior thoracic wall with lung metastasis, manifesting as pneumonia and left pleural effusion, in accordance to pneumonic and subpleural type pulmonal metastasis. Subsequently, patient underwent chemoradiotherapy, resulting in positive response of tumor regression.

Conclusion: Clinicians need to exercise a high index of suspicion of metastasis for the management of patient with BCC on rare sites such as anterior chest.