[Semi-malignant pitch-acanthoma on the hand of a coke oven worker].
We experienced a case of pitch-acanthoma which had developed on the hand of a coke worker after 15 years from his retirement. The patient was a 75-year-old male, who had worked mainly as a coke-oven worker for 24 years. In the spring of 1988, after 15 years from his retirement, he noticed a small nodule on the dorsal aspect of his right hand. He visited our clinic on June 1988 because the nodule was rapidly growing larger. The diagnosis of pitch-acanthoma was obvious from his occupational history and the characteristic poikilodermatous outlook of his skin. The tumor was removed surgically. Histological examination showed hyperkeratosis and acanthosis with horn-pearl formation. Moreover, a pack of atypical cells was observed within the lesion, suggesting an early malignant change. The patient was heavily exposed to a tar-gas-containing atmosphere in his workplace for quite a long period. As tar or pitch remains within the skin in spite of careful cleansing, workers in this atmosphere have a relatively high risk of developing skin cancer. Our present case shows that such malignant change can occur after long years and we would emphasize the necessity of a long term follow-up, perhaps throughout the lifetime of these workers.
Mitsubishi Kasei Hospital, Kitakyushu, Japan.
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Take
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Kiryu
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D003031:Coal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003033:Coal Tar / Q000009:adverse effects; D003077:Coke / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology
D003031:Coal; D003077:Coke; D003033:Coal Tar