Mesh cancer: long-term mesh infection leading to squamous-cell carcinoma of the abdominal wall

Abstract

Infected mesh must be treated early, by complete excision of the mesh. Long-standing mesh infection can degenerate into aggressive squamous-cell carcinoma of the skin.

A case of foreign body granuloma masquerading as a soft tissue tumour

“…Chronic inflammation due to mesh placement also predisposes to squamous cell carcinoma as reported by Birolini et al Diagnosis of a malignancy secondary to chronic inflammatory changes had been straightforward in both reported cases with a history of chronic inflammatory wounds after inguinal hernioplasty. In our case, the patient did not present with an infection and wedge biopsy revealed chronic inflammation [5]. Foreign body granuloma manifests on CT scan as a heterogenous mass which mimics a soft tissue tumour.…”

Safety considerations for synthetic sling surgery

“…387 Tumorigenicity Three cases of cancer that might be associated with implanted polypropylene mesh have been reported in humans. Two patients had squamous cell cancers 6 years and 22 years after mesh hernia repairs, respectively; 388 in addition, an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour following implantation of an RP sling has also been reported. 384 In the patients who had mesh hernia repairs, both had a complicated clinical course involving chronic mesh exposure and infection.…”

“…As described, a small risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma associated with chronic mesh exposure has been reported in patients with hernia meshes. 388 In transvaginal applications of similar materials, chronic erosions might, therefore, increase the risk of squamous cell carcinoma. The importance of concurrent local infections with high-risk variants of human papillomavirus needs to be studied, as these might have a synergistic effect in increasing a patient's cancer risk.…”

Polypropylene meshes and other alloplastic implants for soft tissue and cartilage nasal reconstructive surgery – a literature review

“…There are cited several cases of squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) of the abdominal wall in patients with longterm mesh infection 4 .…”