Skin Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Skin Cancer, including details on identification, causes, prevention, treatment.

Management of squamous cell carcinoma in a patient with recessive-type epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica.

Yamada M, Hatta N, Sogo K, Komura K, Hamaguchi Y, Takehara K

Department of Dermatology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan.

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment of a recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa patient is very difficult for both the surgeon and the anesthetist because of the fragility of the skin and abnormal nature of the tumor bed. OBJECTIVE: We report a case of 54-year-old Japanese recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa patient with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lateral malleolus. METHODS: A tumor measuring 5.0 x 5.5 cm was surgically excised. The defect was then reconstructed by full-thickness skin grafting. To avoid airway complications, general anesthesia was administered using a face mask. Because the regional lymph nodes were swollen before surgery, the patient underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy. RESULTS: The patient remains well with no sign of recurrence or metastasis 7 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: To preserve activities of daily living, surgery should be performed for squamous cell carcinomas arising in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa patients.

Published 3 November 2004 in Dermatol Surg, 30(11): 1424-9.
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