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Published on: August 18, 2022
Squamous cell carcinoma derived from chronic chromoblastomycosis in Brazil
Conceição M P S Azevedo1, Sirlei G Marques1, Daniel W C L Santos2
1Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luiz.
Background:
Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is a chronic fungal infection caused mainly by the melanized fungi Fonsecaea species. The chronic lesions may be predisposed to develop into cancer, the most serious complication of the disease.
Methods:
In this report, 7 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) resulting from chronic CBM in patients from Maranhão in the Brazilian Amazon are described.
Results:
The 7 patients presented with SCC that resulted from chronic CBM, caused by Fonsecaea species >10 years' duration. The malignant lesions occurred independent of the antifungal therapy and all patients underwent curative amputation, except for 1 patient who developed metastases in the inguinal and intra-abdominal lymph nodes and thigh muscles. A majority of previous reports have focused on the malignant transformation of CBM described in only 1 patient each. This is a first report describing a group of patients from a single Brazilian state.
Conclusions:
Here, we provide new epidemiologic data on malignant CBM lesions, an endemic disease that is seemingly neglected worldwide. We reinforce the idea that typically chronic lesions may be predisposed to turn malignant.
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