Squamous-cell carcinoma arising in a leprous neurotrophic ulcer: report of a case

Exophytic neoplasms arise rarely in neurotrophic ulcers of leprosy. When such a lesion does develop, it has clinical resemblance to an indolent and locally invasive epithelioma cuniculatum, may invade deeply, and may metastasize. The case described showed deep invasion and extensive involvement of bone. Exophytic neoplasms in neurotrophic ulcers of leprosy should be considered to be squamous-cell carcinomas, not epitheliomata cuniculata, because of their potential for rapid, deep invasion and metastases.