[Metastasizing squamous epithelial carcinoma following chronic ulcer or the lower leg (author's transl)]

Malignant tumors may develop in tissues with proliferation stimuli persisting for many years. In the case described here, a squamous epithelial carcinoma developing in a chronic ulcer of the lower leg led to extensive metastasization in the inguinal lymph nodes. The treatment consisted of amputation, lymphadenectomy and postoperative irradiation. Malignant degeneration of chronically inflamed tissue occurs in 0.5% of cases at most. The course is not always protected, tumors can occur which are rapidly fatal as a result of metastasization. The length of time which elapses before degeneration occurs averages 20 years. Chronic tumors and fistulae must therefore be watched critically.