Consider Carcinoma Cuniculatum in Recurrent Foot Ulcer: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Carcinoma cuniculatum is a variant of squamous cell carcinoma, characterized by a slow growth with progressive crypt-like invasion of deep tissue. This tumor is frequently misdiagnosed as a benign skin lesion both clinically and histopathologically. The final diagnosis is often delayed as it requires a large sample biopsy. We report the case of a 67-year-old patient who presented to us with a recurring chronic ulcer over a surgical scar of 5 years of evolution.

Only after a wide resection of the chronic ulcer was it possible to achieve the correct diagnosis of this large and poorly evolving carcinoma. The subsequent reconstruction with a musculocutaneous gracilis free flap allowed the patient to walk again.

Keywords

carcinoma cuniculatum - foot reconstruction - through-and-through defect - gracilis free flap

Authors' Contributions

All authors contributed to this study. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Ethical Approval

This is an observational study. Our research ethics committee has confirmed that no ethical approval is required.

Patient Consent

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient.

Publication History

Received: 03 August 2023

Accepted: 03 April 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
29 April 2024

Article published online:
10 June 2024

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