Case Report


Squamous cell carcinoma arising in the background of an epidermoid cyst: A case report from Syria

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1 PhD student, Department of Oncology, Tishreen University Hospital, Lattakia, Syria

2 Professor, Department of Oncology, Tishreen University Hospital, Lattakia, Syria

3 Professor, Department of Vascular Surgery, Tishreen University Hospital, Lattakia, Syria

4 Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Tishreen University Hospital, Lattakia, Syria

5 MD student, Faculty of Medicine, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria

Address correspondence to:

Duaa Knaj

Tishreen University Hospital, Lattakia,

Syria

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Article ID: 101427Z01DK2023

doi: 10.5348/101427Z01DK2023CR

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How to cite this article

Knaj D, Georgeos M, Ahmad G, Issa R, Afif A. Squamous cell carcinoma arising in the background of an epidermoid cyst: A case report from Syria. Int J Case Rep Images 2023;14(2):138–141.

ABSTRACT


Introduction: Malignant transformation of epidermoid cysts is rare, it accounts for 1% of all diagnosed cysts. Transformation into squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma can occur. Clinical examination, radiological examination, and pathological confirmation are necessary for diagnosis and the treatment of choice is usually surgical excision.

Case Report: A 57-year-old Syrian female patient presented to our hospital with a huge mass on the back. Computed tomography revealed a subcutaneous huge mass 25.0 × 20.0 × 9.0 cm extended from cervical vertebrae level into upper lumbar vertebrae. Surgery with the intent of wide and complete excision was performed but it was difficult to obtain complete excision of tumor because of extension into the deep muscles. The diagnosis was made by histopathologic examination. It was a malignant transformation into squamous cell carcinoma arising from the epidermoid cyst. The patient received radiotherapy after surgery because of incomplete excision of tumor.

Conclusion: This case shows an unusual presentation of a huge epidermoid cyst on the back with transformation into malignancy. We aimed to highlight the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of these cysts.

Keywords: Cutaneous cyst, Squamous cell carcinoma, Transformation

SUPPORTING INFORMATION


Author Contributions

Duaa Knaj - Acquisition of data, Drafting the article, Final approval of the version to be published

Michael Georgeos - Substantial contributions to conception and design, Revising it critically for important intellectual content, Final approval of the version to be published

Ghanem Ahmad - Substantial contributions to conception and design, Revising it critically for important intellectual content, Final approval of the version to be published

Rana Issa - Analysis of data, Revising it critically for important intellectual content, Final approval of the version to be published

Ali Afif - Acquisition of data, Drafting the article, Final approval of the version to be published

Guarantor of Submission

The corresponding author is the guarantor of submission.

Source of Support

None

Consent Statement

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this article.

Data Availability

All relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files.

Conflict of Interest

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

Copyright

© 2023 Duaa Knaj et al. This article is distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium provided the original author(s) and original publisher are properly credited. Please see the copyright policy on the journal website for more information.