Patterns of metastasis from a multicenter cohort of metastatic basal cell carcinoma

To the Editor: Metastatic basal cell carcinoma (mBCC) is rare, with estimated incidence around 0.0028%. 1 Kim J.Y.S. Kozlow J.H. Mittal B. Moyer J. Olenecki T. Rodgers P. Work GroupInvited ReviewersGuidelines of care for the management of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018; 78: 560-578https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2017.10.007 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (297) Google Scholar Given its rarity, there is limited information regarding patterns of metastatic spread. Previous studies demonstrate that mBCC can disseminate lymphatically or hematogenously, but there is contradictory information as to which is the most common method of dissemination. 1 Kim J.Y.S. Kozlow J.H. Mittal B. Moyer J. Olenecki T. Rodgers P. Work GroupInvited ReviewersGuidelines of care for the management of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018; 78: 560-578https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2017.10.007 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (297) Google Scholar , 2 Tang S. Thompson S. Smee R. Metastatic basal cell carcinoma: case series and review of the literature. Australas J Dermatol. 2017; 58: e40-e43https://doi.org/10.1111/ajd.12459 Crossref PubMed Scopus (18) Google Scholar , 3 Mikhail G.R. Nims L.P. Kelly Jr., A.P. Ditmars Jr., D.M. Eyler W.R. Metastatic basal cell carcinoma: review, pathogenesis, and report of two cases. Arch Dermatol. 1977; 113: 1261-1269https://doi.org/10.1001/archderm.113.9.1261 Crossref Google Scholar , 4 Ducic Y. Marra D.E. Metastatic basal cell carcinoma. Am J Otolaryngol. 2011; 32: 455-458https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2010.08.006 Crossref PubMed Scopus (14) Google Scholar , 5 Gellatly M. Cruzval-O'Reilly E. Mervak J.E. Mervak B.M. Metastatic basal cell carcinoma with atypical pattern of spread. Radiol Case Rep. 2020; 15: 2641-2644https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radcr.2020.09.054 Crossref Scopus (8) Google Scholar Our objective was to examine patterns of metastatic spread within a multicenter cohort of mBCC.