Aspiration metastases from basal cell carcinoma

Abstract

ERTAIN criteria must be met before one can C accept metastases as having their origins from basal cell carcinomas of the skin. These tumors rarely metastasize and those metastases reported in the literature occurred through the lymphatics and/or the blood stream. Aspiration metastases of basal cell carcinomas have not been previously described. For aspiration metastases to occur, 4 conditions are necessary. These conditions and the criteria of their acceptability are discussed, together with the histories of 2 patients who developed lung metastases from basal cell carcinomas.