Carcinoma of the caecum in a scorbutic patient

The clinical findings of scurvy have been known for well over 3,000 years. In 1753, Sir James Lynd demonstrated the efficiency of citrus fruit in the prevention of this condition. Scurvy still occurs from time to time in this country, notably in the elderly, particularly in bachelors who live alone and eat a poor diet. Scurvy has been associated with gastrointestinal malignancy, but, as far as we know, it has not been reported in association with carcinoma of the caecum. We report the case of an elderly female patient who presented with features of scurvy and was also found to have carcinoma of the caecum.