The development of squamous cell carcinoma in a patient after kidney transplantation: a case report

Coexistence of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Basal Cell Carcinoma in a Renal Transplant Recipient: A Case Report

In solid organ transplant patients, non-melanoma skin cancer remains a leading cause of mortality. The most common skin malignancies in solid organ transplant patients are squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC). In organ transplant patients, SCC is 100 times more prevalent, and BCC is 10 times more prevalent than in the general population. Many risk factors for developing such malignancies are equivalent to those in the general population. However, in the transplant population, such cancers occur at an earlier age, act more aggressively, and often appear at multiple locations. Thus, assiduousness on the patient's part and healthcare providers is the highest priority. The concurrence of SCC and BCC together is rarely encountered in a post-transplant individual. We report a rare case of coexistence of SCC and BCC in the same patient. A 63-year-old man had been diagnosed with SCC and BCC simultaneously by a punch biopsy performed at two different scalp lesions of different diameters. This review describes an unusual occurrence of both skin cancers concurrently in a kidney transplant recipient.

Analysis of selected recurrence risk factors after treatment of head and neck basal cell carcinoma

Introduction

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of non-melanoma malignant skin tumors. Eighty-five percent of all cases are located on the skin of the head and neck. The risk of recurrence after surgery is estimated at 5–15%.

Aim

To evaluate the selected risk factors for recurrence after surgical treatment of head and neck BCC at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery in the Greater Poland Cancer Centre of the Poznan University of Medical Sciences.

Material and methods

A retrospective analysis was made of patients treated at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery in the Greater Poland Cancer Centre of the Poznan University of Medical Sciences in 2007–2012 for BCC of the head and neck region. The study covered 312 patients: 198 males (63%) and 114 females (37%), aged 32–96 years.

Results

In the study group of 312 tumors, recurrence after initial treatment in this Centre was diagnosed in 18 patients (9%), whereas in patients who were previously operated elsewhere, recurrence was found in 22 cases (17%). The nodular type was the most common BCC type in the study group and concerned 175 patients (56%). The most numerous group (114; 37%) in this study group comprised patients with external nose and cheek tumors.

Conclusions

The importance of preoperative biopsy to assess the histological type as a routine treatment of patients with BCC is essential. Ultrasound evaluation to assess the exact size and depth of tumor invasion should also be implemented.