Aggressive behavior of squamous cell carcinoma in a patient with preceding lymphocytic lymphoma

Actinically induced squamous cell carcinomas of the skin (SCC) are generally considered nonaggressive and usually curable tumors. However, in patients with lymphoma or leukemia, these tumors may behave in an extremely aggressive manner. We report a case in which an actinically induced SCC occurred in a patient with preceding lymphocytic lymphoma. The tumor progressed from a localized lesion to an invasive destructive lesion which resulted in death. The occurrence of SCC in patients with lymphoma or leukemia possibly should be more aggressively treated, early in its course.