Squamous Cell Carcinoma Arising in Discoid Lupus Erythematosus of the Nail Unit

Tatiana Mina Yendo; Tatiana Villas Boas Gabbi; Marcello Menta Simonsen Nico

doi:10.1159/000529360

Squamous Cell Carcinoma Arising in Discoid Lupus Erythematosus of the Nail Unit

Skin Appendage Disord. 2023 Jun;9(3):221-223. doi: 10.1159/000529360. Epub 2023 Feb 15.

Authors

Tatiana Mina Yendo¹, Tatiana Villas Boas Gabbi¹, Marcello Menta Simonsen Nico¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Dermatology, Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

PMID: 37325277
PMCID: PMC10264918 (available on 2024-06-01)
DOI: 10.1159/000529360

Abstract

Introduction: Discoid lupus erythematosus can affect periungual tissues leading to onychodystrophy. Squamous cell carcinoma can occur in persistent scars of discoid lupus; this rare occurrence has not yet been reported on the nail unit. Case presentation: we report a case of squamous cell carcinoma occurring on the distal phalanx of the thumb in a patient with longstanding periungual discoid lupus on several fingernails.

Discussion: Periungual discoid lupus erythematosus is rare. The scars caused by this disease can very rarely develop into squamous cell carcinoma. This is the first report of this occurrence at the periungual tissues.

Keywords: Discoid lupus erythematosus; Lupus erythematosus; Marjolin ulcer; Nails; Squamous cell carcinoma.

Publication types

Case Reports

Grants and funding

No author of this study received any funding for this research.