2021 Volume 60 Issue 5 Pages 260-265
Background : Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a malignant skin tumor that rarely metastasizes. Herein, we report a case of BCC of the vulva, especially focusing on the cytological findings.
Case : An 82-year-old female patient presented to our hospital with a painless ulcerated lesion in the vulval area measuring approximately 5 cm in size. Biopsy and cytological examination revealed the characteristic features of BCC. Local excision of the lesion was performed. In the cytological examination performed prior to the operation, pleomorphism with cellular atypia and peripheral palisading were observed ; these findings were similar to the findings in sections prepared from the resected specimen.
Conclusion : In this case, we examined the correlation between the cytological and pathological characteristics. Although the usefulness of cytology for the diagnosis is unknown, when there is strong clinical suspicion of BCC, cytological examination is useful to confirm the diagnosis. Thus, cytological analysis is useful not only to diagnose BCC, but also to distinguish it from other forms of malignant melanoma.
