Pulmonary metastases from a basal cell carcinoma.

Although basal cell carcinomas are the commonest malignant condition of the skin (Borel 1973) pulmonary metastases are rare; it appears that only 30 authenticated cases have been reported (Sakula 1977). A further case is described of a man aged 64 who presented severe dyspnoea and who for 12 years had harbored an untreated ulcerating lesion of the abdominal wall shown histologically to be a basal cell carcinoma. Chest radiography showed metastatic disease confirmed histologically to be identical to the ulcerating skin lesion. Unfortunately, because of the severe respiratory condition, no definitive treatment was indicated and the patient died of respiratory failure 2 weeks following discharge.