Basal‐Cell Epithelioma Occurring in a Smallpox Vaccination Scar

Abstract

A patient with basal-cell epithelioma occurring in a sm all pox vaccination site is reported. The association is pro b ably not a chance occurrence. M a l i g n a n t TUMORS arising in smallpox vaccination sites are relatively rare occurrences'. Basal-cell epitheliomas and squamous-cell carcinomas2 have predominated in in cidence; melanomas have occurred; and one instance of a dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and another of a mesen chymoma at the site of an injection of insulin has been reported3. Vaccination with BCG has been followed by the development of a malignant melanoma4.The case reported here is the 51st of malignancy de veloping in a scar of smallpox vaccination. nation had been asymptomatic until a nodule began to de velop one year ago.On examination, a 9 x 10 mm nodular and erythematous lesion was found on the left deltoid region within the borders of a depressed scar (Fig. 1). ___ M . 1 ■ w ËiÊÊÈÊÈÊBÊÈ if m m m m F IG U R E 1. Nodule in a vaccination scar on the left deltoid region.

Trauma as a Possible Etiologic Factor in Basal Cell Carcinoma

“…Numerous types of trauma have been identified in connection with subsequent basal cell carcinoma formation. These include thermal burn scars, 4–13 vaccination sites, 14–25 chicken pox scars, 26 tattoos, 27 sites of blunt or sharp injury, 9,10,28–30 skin exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, 31 scars of lupus vulgaris, 32 chronic stasis ulcers, 33 sites of frostbite, 34 a hair transplantation site, 35 lesions of epidermolysis bullosa, 36 a colostomy site, 37 and a gunshot wound 38 …”

Basal Cell Carcinoma Arising from Surgical Scars: A Case and Review of the Literature

“…5 An association between BCC and scar tissue has been noted in several reports. [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] The most common scar types associated with BCC are previous vaccination and small pox scars [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] while burn scars are associated with fewer. [17][18][19] Only five BCC cases arising from surgical scars have been reported in the literature we reviewed.…”

Post-traumatic basal cell carcinomas

“…Cumulative exposure to ultraviolet light is the most important factor in the genesis of basal cell carcinomas (Silverstone & Gordon, 1966). Basal cell carcinomas (BCC) may also arise in the scars of lupus vulgaris (Orfuss, 1971), smallpox vaccinations (Castrow & Williams, 1976) and in thermal bum scars (Connolly, i960;Kantor, Berger & Wilentz, 1970). Ewing (1971) reported thirteen patients who developed BCC at the site of a well-remembcrcd injury between 3 months and 7 years after the injury.…”