Two Cases of Basal Cell Carcinoma Mimicking Malignant Melanoma on the Vulva

Yu, Mi; Han, Tae Young; Lee, June Hyunkyung; Son, Sook Ja

Abstract

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) located on the vulva, accounts for less than 1% of BCC, and it may display more invasive, aggressive features. The clinical manifestations are variable, and symptoms, such as pruritus and irritation can be noted. Vulvar malignant melanoma, which is the second most common vulvar malignancy, is characterized by asymmetry, border irregularity, color variegation, large diameter and commonly reported symptoms like pain, itching, discharge or bleeding. A 50 year-old woman presented with a 3-year-history of pruritic variegated colored, 2 cm sized plaque on the right labia majora and a 74 year-old woman presented with a 8-year-history of easily-bleeding black colored 1.7 cm sized plaque on the left labia majora. Histologic examinations showed a downward growth of basaloid tumor cells, with peripheral palisading. Two patients were diagnosed as BCC on a vulvar area, and the lesions were widely excised with clear resection margin. Herein, we report two cases of vulvar BCC, clinically mimicking a malignant melanoma.