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Squamous cell carcinoma of the hand masquerading as a cutaneous infection
Author(s) -
Fisher Jemima,
Masson James,
Rosen Robert
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
australasian journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.67
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1440-0960
pISSN - 0004-8380
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-0960.2006.00224.x
Subject(s) - medicine , superinfection , amputation , malignancy , lesion , biopsy , abscess , pathology , basal cell , surgery , immunology , virus
SUMMARY A 33‐year‐old male concreter presented with a small abscess on his right index finger following an injury at work. Histological examination of the lesion was consistent with chronic inflammation and Staphylococcus aureus , Streptococcus anginosus and Escherichia coli were isolated on cultures. The lesion was treated as a chronic fungal infection with bacterial superinfection. Seventeen months later, a bone scan showed periarticular involvement, and a diagnostic biopsy identified a well‐differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. He underwent amputation of his index and middle fingers. After 4 years of follow up, there has been no evidence of recurrence at the primary site, but he has since developed two further primary squamous cell carcinomas. This case emphasizes the importance of considering malignancy when dealing with chronic infections of the hand.