Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Perineal, Perianal, and Gluteal Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Experience in 12 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Few reports describe squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) arising in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). OBJECTIVE: The 2 objectives were (1) to describe the clinical characteristics, pathologic findings, and postoperative outcomes of SCC in HS and (2) to assess whether human papillomavirus (HPV) is involved in the pathogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cases of SCC in HS were identified through institutional medical records (1976-2013) and the Rochester Epidemiology Project. Tumor specimens were assessed for HPV DNA/RNA with in situ hybridization. RESULTS: Twelve patients were identified (11 Caucasians and 9 men). All SCCs involved gluteal, perianal, or perineal skin; 1 patient had, in addition, involvement of the vagina. Surgical excision was performed on all 12 patients, 4 of whom had a colostomy. Mean duration of HS before SCC development was 28.5 years (range, 15-53 years). Mean follow-up was 4.3 years after surgical excision. Seven of 12 patients followed had postoperative SCC recurrence. Squamous cell carcinoma caused death despite wide surgical excision in these 7 patients. Of the remaining 5 patients, 4 are unknown and 1 who did not recur had an in situ SCC (Bowen disease carcinoma). Squamous cell carcinoma was not associated with high-risk or low-risk HPV. CONCLUSION: Invasive SCC arising in HS carries a high risk of death.

Clinicopathological study of 13 cases of squamous cell carcinoma complicating hidradenitis suppurativa.

BACKGROUND: To the best of our knowledge, only 52 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) complicating hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) have been reported since 1958. We describe 13 new cases. METHODS: We propose a clinical and histological analysis of our cases. We include these results in a review of previously reported cases to analyze a total of 65 patients. In our series of 13 cases, we also investigate the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in tumor samples, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on paraffin-embedded material. RESULTS: Malignant transformation affects mainly men with a long-term history of genitoanal HS. Although our cases were 7 well-differentiated carcinomas and 6 verrucous carcinomas, lymphatic and visceral metastasis occurred in 2 and 3 cases, respectively. With PCR, we demonstrated presence of HPV in genitoanal tumoral lesions, principally HPV-16. CONCLUSION: SCC complicating HS evolves poorly, despite a good histological prognosis. Our results sustain the implication of HPV in the malignant transformation of HS.

Verrucous carcinoma arising in hidradenitis suppurativa.

There are many reported cases of squamous carcinoma complicating hidradenitis suppurativa, but only one previous mention of verrucous carcinoma in this setting. We describe a case of verrucous carcinoma arising in hidradenitis suppurativa of the anal margin in a non-immunosuppressed man. This is the second report of verrucous carcinoma arising in a lesion of hidradenitis suppurativa. Although hidradenitis suppurativa can involve multiple intertriginous sites, malignant degeneration occurs mostly in the anogenital region. This suggests a role for a regional factor which, when combined with chronic inflammation, predisposes to malignant degeneration. A likely candidate for this factor is human papillomavirus; our case showed histologic evidence for this, but the specimen did not show viral DNA by polymerase chain reaction in situ hybridization. The ability of anogenital hidradenitis suppurativa to form squamous and verrucous cancers reinforces the argument for early and complete resection.