Squamous cell carcinoma complicating chronic venous leg ulceration: a study of the histopathology, course and survival in 25 patients.
We have studied 25 cases of squamous cell carcinoma in chronic venous leg ulcers. Twenty-three of the patients were dead and two were alive. The mean age at cancer diagnosis was 78.5 years. The median survival was 1 year. Eleven tumours were well-differentiated, 10 moderately and four poorly. All patients with a poorly differentiated tumour died within a year. Metastases were certain in eight cases. The disease was lethal in 10 cases which included all poorly differentiated tumours. The survival of the study group was significantly shortened compared with a control group of patients with lower limb non-melanoma skin cancer (n = 433) from the Swedish Cancer Registry (P = 0.0084). When diagnosed, squamous cell carcinoma in chronic leg ulcers merits a thorough investigation of the degree of differentiation and spread. Assertive treatment is indicated as poorly differentiated tumours and some moderately differentiated tumours may be fatal.
Baldursson
B T
BT
Department of Dermatology, Gävle Hospital, 801 87 Gävle, Sweden. baldur.baldursson@lsgs.lg.se
Hedblad
M A
MA
Beitner
H
H
Lindelöf
B
B
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007868:Leg Dermatoses / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate