Gorlin Syndrome Presentation and the Importance of Differential Diagnosis of Skin Cancer: A Case Report
In a busy community practice, clinical skin findings can often be misinterpreted. Skin cancers can sometimes mimic rashes like psoriasis, eczema or prurigo nodularis in both appearance and symptoms. Gorlin syndrome is one such genetic syndrome, characterized by the eruption of multiple and early ons...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2018-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences |
| Online Access: | https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/jpps/index.php/JPPS/article/view/30150 |
| _version_ | 1827166614660841472 |
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| author | Ravina Sangera-Grewal Parbeer Singh Grewal |
| author_facet | Ravina Sangera-Grewal Parbeer Singh Grewal |
| author_sort | Ravina Sangera-Grewal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In a busy community practice, clinical skin findings can often be misinterpreted. Skin cancers can sometimes mimic rashes like psoriasis, eczema or prurigo nodularis in both appearance and symptoms. Gorlin syndrome is one such genetic syndrome, characterized by the eruption of multiple and early onset basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), which can be mistaken for a rash. We describe a 68-year-old female who presented to the dermatology office with a previous history of over 30 BCCs that had been previously biopsied and/or surgically removed. However, the patient had been lost to follow up for several years and had not been seen by a skin specialist. In the interim, she had been misdiagnosed as having eczematous or psoriatic lesions by primary care providers. Patients with Gorlin syndrome are even harder to diagnose as their skin cancers often do not possess the classic features associated with a basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma. When in doubt, and especially if failing topical therapy, patients presenting with dermatological lesions should be properly referred to a specialist for further assessment and workup. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T07:04:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b285dd695a434e7ea73689564db554dc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1482-1826 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-03-21T01:51:12Z |
| publishDate | 2018-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-b285dd695a434e7ea73689564db554dc2024-08-02T22:02:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences1482-18262018-09-01211s10.18433/jpps30150Gorlin Syndrome Presentation and the Importance of Differential Diagnosis of Skin Cancer: A Case ReportRavina Sangera-Grewal0Parbeer Singh Grewal1Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.Faculty of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.In a busy community practice, clinical skin findings can often be misinterpreted. Skin cancers can sometimes mimic rashes like psoriasis, eczema or prurigo nodularis in both appearance and symptoms. Gorlin syndrome is one such genetic syndrome, characterized by the eruption of multiple and early onset basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), which can be mistaken for a rash. We describe a 68-year-old female who presented to the dermatology office with a previous history of over 30 BCCs that had been previously biopsied and/or surgically removed. However, the patient had been lost to follow up for several years and had not been seen by a skin specialist. In the interim, she had been misdiagnosed as having eczematous or psoriatic lesions by primary care providers. Patients with Gorlin syndrome are even harder to diagnose as their skin cancers often do not possess the classic features associated with a basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma. When in doubt, and especially if failing topical therapy, patients presenting with dermatological lesions should be properly referred to a specialist for further assessment and workup.https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/jpps/index.php/JPPS/article/view/30150 |
| spellingShingle | Ravina Sangera-Grewal Parbeer Singh Grewal Gorlin Syndrome Presentation and the Importance of Differential Diagnosis of Skin Cancer: A Case Report Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences |
| title | Gorlin Syndrome Presentation and the Importance of Differential Diagnosis of Skin Cancer: A Case Report |
| title_full | Gorlin Syndrome Presentation and the Importance of Differential Diagnosis of Skin Cancer: A Case Report |
| title_fullStr | Gorlin Syndrome Presentation and the Importance of Differential Diagnosis of Skin Cancer: A Case Report |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gorlin Syndrome Presentation and the Importance of Differential Diagnosis of Skin Cancer: A Case Report |
| title_short | Gorlin Syndrome Presentation and the Importance of Differential Diagnosis of Skin Cancer: A Case Report |
| title_sort | gorlin syndrome presentation and the importance of differential diagnosis of skin cancer a case report |
| url | https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/jpps/index.php/JPPS/article/view/30150 |
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