RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Giant skin tumours are defined as greater than 10 cm in size and are frequently a consequence of neglect. We report three cases of giant skin tumours and discuss possible factors associated with delayed diagnosis and treatment. OBSERVATIONS: Two men and one woman, aged 52, 62 and 78 years, presented with giant skin tumours. One was mentally retarded, one had a borderline personality and another was presenting a major depressive disorder. Pain, smell, bleeding and/or loss of function forced the patients to seek medical care. Tumour sizes were 11 to 30 cm and were present for between six months and 20 years. All patients had hidden their lesion from their doctor and families. In one case, a sebaceous carcinoma of the right shoulder required amputation of the right upper limb. In a second, palliative surgery and medical care was given for a metastatic porocarcinoma. The last patient received neoadjuvant chemotherapy for an undifferentiated carcinoma. DISCUSSION: Neglected skin tumours continue to be encountered even in 2011. Consultation was delayed due to fear of the diagnosis and/or lack of corresponding physicians, resulting in worsening of the prognosis. A larger scale study could help us to identify the factors associated with neglected giant tumours and to improve their management.