Simultaneous presentation of squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma in a patient of chronic arsenic poisoning: a case report

Abstract

Arsenicosis" is a known health hazard in certain areas of our country, contaminated drinking water being the chief source of intoxication. Common manifestations include typical pigmentation, keratosis with or without involvement of internal organs. The worst consequence is development of malignancies, typically squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma among others. We report a case of a 50-year-old farmer from N-24 Paraganas (West Bengal, India) found to consume water with more than permissible arsenic level for almost 10 years, presenting with aforesaid cutaneous malignancies simultaneously. Chronic arsenic exposure is known to cause cutaneous malignancies in people. However, a simultaneous occurrence of both squamous and basal cell carcinomas in the same subject is rarely seen.