Saree Cancer: The Malignant Changes in Chronic Irritation

摘要

Skin cancers are relatively uncommon malignancies which have been seen worldwide; their incidence in India is less than 1% of all the cancers. The incidence of malignancy in scar tissues is 0.1-2.5%. Saree is a type of female costume and dhoti is a male costume which are unique to the Indian subcontinent. The persistent and the long term wearing of this costume results in depigmentation and glazing of the skin, acanthosis, scar and ulceration and subsequent, but very slow, malignant changes. The exact mechanism of the malignant transformation is unknown, but recurrent trauma over a long period with consequent interference with the healing process is a possible explanation. Very few papers have been published on saree cancer and no article on this topic is available on Medline and Pubmed. Khanolkar and Suryabai first described ?dhoti cancer? in 1945. We are presenting a rare case of saree cancer in a 70 year old women. She presented with an ulceroproliferative growth which measured 10 cm × 7 cm on the left loin, which turned out to be squamous cell carcinoma on biopsy. Wide excision with primary skin grafting was done. The post operative follow up of one year has shown her to be disease free.