Inguinal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Presenting as a Marjolin Ulcer in the Absence of Mesh Infection: A Case Report

Abstract

Inguinal hernias are the most common type of hernias, and most are repaired surgically with mesh placement to prevent future reoccurrence. Mesh infection and hernia recurrence are some of the rare complications of mesh placement, and chronic mesh infections increase the risk of squamous cell carcinoma at the site. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the setting of a mesh infection presents in a similar manner to a Marjolin ulcer and is treated with the removal of the tumor and degraded infected mesh. However, in this case, the patient presented atypically with an absence of mesh involvement. This report aims to explore the etiology of SCC due to mesh infections as well as describe the perplexing case of inguinal SCC in the absence of mesh involvement.