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Multiple basal cell carcinomas associated with hairy cell leukaemia
Author(s) -
Schön,
Reifenberger,
Von Schmiedeberg,
Megahed,
T. J. Lang,
Gattermann,
Meckenstock,
Goerz,
Růzicka
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2133.1999.02626.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pathology , cancer research
We report the case of a caucasian woman who, between the ages of 49 and 51 years, developed multiple (> 20) basal cell carcinomas (BCC). There was no family history of BCC. No abnormalities in the human homologue of the Drosophila segment polarity gene patched ( PTCH ), glutathione S‐transferases T1 and M1, or cytochrome P450 1A1 were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based molecular analysis. There was, however, actinic damage of the skin in sun‐exposed areas. The patient was diagnosed as having hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) at the age of 51 years, based upon leucocyte morphology as assessed by light and electron microscopy, tartrate‐resistant acid leucocyte phosphatase (TRAP) staining, fluorescence activated cell scanning of peripheral blood leucocytes and bone marrow histology. As the leukaemia slowly progressed over a 3‐month period, the patient developed four further BCCs. Given that HCL is characterized by a profound defect in T‐cell function, it is conceivable that T‐cell immune dysregulation can contribute to the pathogenesis of BCC, possibly enhancing the aetiological effect of ultraviolet irradiation.