Adenoid Basal Cell Carcinoma - A Rare Variant and a Mimic of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

Basal Cell Carcinoma is a common cutaneous malignancy, occurring primarily on the face . It has many histological variants. We present a case of a 71- year old farmer with a nodule near outer canthus of the right eye, since six months. Histopathological examination of the excised nodule revealed a tumour composed of basaloid cells with an adenoid pattern of growth. Based on the histopathological and immunohistochemical features, a diagnosis of adenoid type of basal cell carcinoma was made. The adenoid BCC is a rare type and closely resembles the Primary Cutaneous Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma. Differentiation of these two histologically similar lesions is important as their evolution and prognosis is different.