[Oral multiple carcinomatosis in a patient from an area with endemic regional chronic hydroarsenicism (ERCH)].
BACKGROUND
Arsenic (As) and its compounds may cause multiple harmful effects on the human organism, interfering with biological processes of vital importance. It is known that the inhabitants of vast areas of the Argentine Republic drink well water contaminated with AS, which results in a disease known as Endemic Regional Chronic Hydroarsenicism (ERCH). It has been observed that these patients present a clinical picture characterized by multiple carcinomatous skin lesions which occur concurrently or successively along long periods of time.


OBJECTIVE
To present the clinical case of a female patient from the arsenical area of Cordoba Province, who had multiple carcinomatous oral lesions.


METHODS
The patient's history was written and iconographies, surgical excision of the lip lesions, pathological studies of the samples, and evolution observations were done.


RESULTS
Based on both the patient's history and follow-up studies, it was possible to prove the presence of multiple successive carcinomatous lesions in the oral mucosa.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that drinking water containing more AS than the quantity accepted by the WHO (0.0 5 ppm) can cause multiple carcinomatous lesions on the oral mucosa as well as on the skin.
Carrica
Victoriano
V
Cátedra de Clínica Estomatológica I y II A, Facultad de Odontología, Haya de la Torre s/n. Pabellón Argentina, Ciudad Universitaria, UNC Córdoba, Argentina.
D001118:Argentina; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning / Q000150:complications*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D014881:Water Supply
D014873:Water Pollutants