Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026
06:15
Anterior High-Resolution Optical Coherence Tomography in the Diagnosis and Therapeutic Monitoring of Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia
Published on: August 9, 2024
Squamous cell carcinoma in bilateral untreated syndactyly
Wee Leon Lam1, Joseph Hardwicke, Gerard Laitung
1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Royal Preston Hospital, Preston, UK.
Summary
Untreated syndactyly can lead to chronic skin issues and squamous cell carcinoma due to friction. Surgical correction may prevent long-term complications associated with this congenital condition.
Area of Science:
- Plastic Surgery
- Dermatology
- Congenital Malformations
Background:
- Syndactyly is a congenital condition involving the fusion of digits.
- Untreated syndactyly can lead to functional and cosmetic concerns, though not always.
- Chronic friction in fused digits can cause skin changes.
Observation:
- An 81-year-old male patient presented with untreated bilateral syndactyly.
- The patient's primary concerns were not related to hand function or appearance.
- Long-term manual labor resulted in chronic skin changes from friction on the fused digits.
Findings:
- The chronic friction associated with untreated syndactyly led to the development of squamous cell carcinoma.
- This case highlights a rare long-term complication of untreated syndactyly.
Implications:
- Early surgical intervention for syndactyly may prevent chronic skin changes and secondary malignancies.
- This case underscores the importance of considering long-term risks in congenital conditions.
- Further research into the oncogenic potential of chronic friction in syndactyly is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is a type of cancer that occurs when there is an abnormal growth of skin cells, usually triggered by damage to the DNA within the skin cells. It is primarily caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide, and its incidence continues to rise.
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...
01:20The Retinoblastoma Gene
Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
02:23Abnormal Proliferation
Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...
01:03Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer
Rous Sarcoma virus or RSV was discovered by F. Peyton Rous in the year 1911 as a filterable transmissible agent that could cause tumors in chickens. He won a Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1966. His experiments clearly demonstrated that some cancers could be caused by infectious agents and led to the discovery of many more cancer-causing viruses in animals as well as humans.
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...