Verrucous carcinoma of the foot from chronic pressure ulcer.
METHODS
This is a case report with literature review.


OBJECTIVE
To describe a case of verrucous carcinoma, a rare histopathologic type, complicating a chronic pressure ulcer of duration less than 3 years.


METHODS
The department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.


METHODS
A 24-year-old African-American male with long-standing incomplete paraplegia visited the wound clinic due to a pressure ulcer that had lasted for more than 1 year on the medial side of the right foot. Despite conservative management for almost 2 years after the initial visit, the ulcer is suspected to have undergone malignant transformation. Histological study led to the diagnosis of verrucous carcinoma that necessitated transtibial amputation on the right foot.


RESULTS
The carcinoma developed within 3 years, which was a relatively short time period for a pressure ulcer to have undergone malignant transformation. The diagnosis of verrucous carcinoma has never been reported as carcinoma complicating a pressure ulcer. No evidence of local recurrence or distant metastasis was seen in postoperative 10 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The possibility of malignant transformation should be kept in mind in cases of pressure ulcers that are unresponsive to treatment or that show morphological changes suspected to be cancerous. Furthermore, early detection and intervention increases the probability for successful outcome.
Lee
M Y
MY
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Shin
J C
JC
Park
C I
CI
Rha
D W
DW
Sastry
T K
TK
D000328:Adult; D018289:Carcinoma, Verrucous / Q000209:etiology*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D016523:Foot Ulcer / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009989:Orthotic Devices / Q000009:adverse effects; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000150:complications; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000150:complications*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors