title: [Squamous cell carcinoma in lupus vulgaris].
abstract: Lupus vulgaris and carcinoma in lupo have become rare events that take place in the developed countries only under special circumstances. A 53-year-old woman developed such a carcinoma. She suffered from alcoholism, a well known risk factor for tuberculosis. The diagnosis of lupus vulgaris was confirmed by biopsy when an erythematous lesion on her arm that had been present for 25 years enlarged and subsequently ulcerated. Chemotherapy was discontinued because of lack of compliance and the ulcer grew markedly over the following 16 months. Therefore the entire lesion was excised. Histology showed a squamous cell carcinoma within the ulcer. Neither further systemic manifestations of tuberculosis nor metastases of the carcinoma were found. Under continuous combined antituberculous therapy, the patient remained free of symptoms. This case underlines the problems associated with a disease that has been nearly forgotten in the western countries. It also shows that alcoholism is a risk factor for tuberculosis, along with debilitating diseases such as lymphoma and AIDS as well as immunosuppressive therapy.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Dermatologie und Phlebologie, Vivantes Klinikum Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kimmritz
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hermes
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schewe
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Haas
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008177:Lupus Vulgaris / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology