[Epidermoid carcinoma arising in femoral osteitis. A case]

The authors report a case of malignant degeneration arising from a fistula in a patient with chronic osteomyelitis of the femur. This rare complication (0.2 per cent-1.6 per cent) most frequently involves the lower limb. A review of the literature reveals that it is associated with long-standing osteomyelitis (30 years), is most frequently a squamous cell carcinoma or rarely a sarcoma, and is principally treated by surgical amputation. The frequency of metastatic spread is low (30 per cent). Malignant degeneration appears to be a local phenomenon, and if diagnosed early, has a rather favorable outcome following complete excision.