[A case report of squamous cell carcinoma arising in a patient with meningomyelocele].

ABSTRACT

Meningomyelocele combined with squamous cell carcinoma is rare in literature. In this article, we report the clinical and treatment of a patient with meningomyelocele and squamous cell carcinoma and discuss its mechanism, clinical feature, therapy and prognosis.The patient was a 11-year-old Chinese boy.At the time of his birth he was noted to have a lumbosacral meningomyelocele, which was disrupted and the cerebral spinal fluid flew out when the child was six.The wound surface abrased and exudated repeatedly.Two months before admission,the meningomyelocele was disrupted again and the condition got worse.Inspection showed a meningomyelocele in the lower lumbar region 10 cm in diameter,consisting of a cauliflower-shaped swelling and a central crater containing black slough.The area smelled foul and was constantly draining serosanguineous fluid.Magnetic resonance imaging showed meningomyelocele associated with spinal dysraphism and tethered cord syndrome.After thorough preparation, operation was undertaken.A perpendicular skin incision,which was carried down to the lumbar aponeurosis,allowed the main bulk of the tumour to be undercut and removed.The quick frozen pathological examination confirmed that it was squamous cell carcinoma.The skin and subcutaneous tissue were further resected and the vertebral canal explored until frozen section showed the excision edge was clear.Skin closure was achieved by a bipedicle advancement flap,some 10 cm wide and the secondary defect was closed with a thigh skin graft.Histological examination showed that the massive outgrowth was a well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma.The postoperative recovery was uneventful and the wounds healed by primary intention.Although meningomyelocele combined with squamous cell carcinoma is rare in literature,the possibility of cancerization should be considered when there is a long-term and non-healing ulcer (Marjolin ulcer) with foul smell in a meningomyelocele patient.