Skin Squamous Cell Carcinoma Presenting as Cellulitis

Abstract

In general, skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) presents as papules or plaques with erythematous or pigmented appearance that may ulcerate the skin. Cellulitis caused by metastatic deposit from a known primary skin SCC has been reported once.1 We describe a patient who presented with cellulitis on the face that did not respond well to full course of antibiotics treatment, and turned out to be a newly diagnosed SCC after biopsy. Other differential diagnoses, such as malignancy, should be suspected in all unusual presentations and biopsy should be taken if patients do not show an optimal and desired improvement after receiving a full-course of antibiotic therapy for cellulitis.

Beware what lies beneath: a case of a gigantic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

“…There are no reports in the literature of cellulitis overlying an SCC. Zhao et al . reported a case of refractory facial cellulitis, which was possibly associated with or secondary to an SCC on the upper lip.…”