Pigmented Basal Cell Carcinoma on Chest of a 64-Year-Old Woman

The areas that contained linear erythema, punctuated by stippled pigmentation, and a small round area of stippled pigmentation were biopsied: both showed pigmented basal cell carcinoma.

 

A 64-year-old woman sought medical attention because of the appearance of a “strange-looking” skin lesion on her chest. Her past history included treatment for actinic keratoses and basal cell carcinoma.

Key point: The area in question contained linear erythema, punctuated by stippled pigmentation and a small round area of stippled pigmentation. Both areas were biopsied, and both showed pigmented basal cell carcinoma.

Treatment: Treatment consisted of surgical excision and primary closure.

Note: For entirely unknown reasons, pigmented basal cell carcinoma not infrequently presents as a linear lesion.