Multiple synchronous pigmented basal cell carcinomas. Report of a new case and review of the literature

Pigmented basal cell carcinoma is a clinical and histologic variant of basal cell carcinoma presenting usually as a single irregularly pigmented well-marginated nodule with telangiectasia on its surface and depressed or ulcerated centre. Its colour varies from light brown to dark black. The tumour presents more frequently as solitary neoplasm in sun-exposed areas of the body. We report the first case of 61-year-old Caucasian woman with multiple darkly nodular pigmented basal cell carcinomas of her back. Lesions had appeared in different areas since 2 years with no further lesions in other part of her body. Medical history of this patient for other known risk factors for cutaneous malignancy was inconclusive. In light of the rarity of this condition, we reviewed all the cases reporting multiple pigmented BCCs available from the literature review. We describe the tumour and its clinical and pathological characteristics and undertake a literature review to clarify epidemiologic and demographic data of the affected patients and the management adopted by the different authors.