Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) of hand in a patient of generalized vitiligo treated by surface mould brachytherapy

Authors

  • Guneet Awal Assistant Professor,Department of Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Amritsar
  • Seema Goel Department of Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy, Government Medical College, Patiala
  • Rajinder Kumar Goel Department of Surgery, Government Medical College, Patiala
  • Simplepreet Kaur Junior Resident, Department of Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Amritsar

Keywords:

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), long standing vitiliginous skin, high dose rate (HDR) surface mould brachytherapy

Abstract

Nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSC) are the most common malignant tumors in humans, with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) constituting about one-fourth of these cases. Considering that patients with vitiligo have no protective pigment (melanin) in sun-exposed depigmented skin, it would be expected that these patients develop a higher risk for photodamage and NMSC. However, there is a paucity of reports of NMSC in sun-exposed, long-standing vitiliginous skin as NMSC are rare occurrences in such patients. Currently, ablative surgery is almost always recommended as the treatment for most SCCs. Nonetheless, high dose rate (HDR) surface mould brachytherapy is a safe and simple alternative to surgery, in selected cases, as it successfully eradicates the tumor and also preserves hand function. We report a case of generalized vitiligo with cutaneous SCC of the hand treated with surface mould brachytherapy. 

Author Biographies

Guneet Awal, Assistant Professor,Department of Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Amritsar

Assistant Professor,Department of Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Amritsar

Seema Goel, Department of Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy, Government Medical College, Patiala

Department of Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy, Government Medical College, Patiala

Rajinder Kumar Goel, Department of Surgery, Government Medical College, Patiala

Department of Surgery, Government Medical College, Patiala

Simplepreet Kaur, Junior Resident, Department of Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Amritsar

Department of Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Amritsar

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Published

2018-05-27

How to Cite

1.
Awal G, Goel S, Goel RK, Kaur S. Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) of hand in a patient of generalized vitiligo treated by surface mould brachytherapy. J Pak Assoc Dermatol [Internet]. 2018May27 [cited 2025Feb.7];27(4):405-9. Available from: https://www.jpad.com.pk/index.php/jpad/article/view/1041