Squamous Cell Carcinoma Complicating an Untreated Chronic Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (CDLE) Lesion in a Black Female

Abstract

A 36-years-old female presented with hypertrophic, depigmented plaques on both forearms and a fungating cauliflower-like growth on the left forearm. Histologically, the plaque lesions were discoid lupus erythematosus, and the fungating growth was a well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma.

Preliminary evaluation of in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy features of discoid lupus erythematosus

“…2 In rare cases, DLE has been reported to evolve to squamous cell carcinoma in sun-exposed areas. 3 The clinical diagnosis can be readily made in typical lesions; however, clinical variants of DLE can occasionally simulate other skin diseases. 4 Active discoid lesions can simulate conditions such as plaque-type polymorphous light eruption, sarcoidosis, Jessner's benign lymphocytic infiltration of the skin and cutaneous pseudolymphomas or lymphomas.…”

“…Early, active lesions usually display surrounding erythema, while long‐standing lesions often present dyschromic and atrophic areas with adherent thick scales and follicular plugging 2 . In rare cases, DLE has been reported to evolve to squamous cell carcinoma in sun‐exposed areas 3 …”

Malignant potential of oral and labial chronic discoid lupus erythematosus: a clinicopathological study of 87 cases

“…It has a prolonged clinical course that can persist for many years, despite various treatments 1,2 . Development of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) can occur in DLE, with about 20 cases reported in the world literature to date, 3–9 which led the World Health Organization (WHO) to classify DLE as one of the precancerous conditions 10 . The prevalence of DLE has been reported to be less than five in 10 000 individuals 11 .…”

Discoid lupus erythematosus leading to squamous cell carcinoma: a case report

“…5,8 The lips were the most commonly affected area in DLE related SCC. We are reporting a case of SCC over DLE presenting over external ear.…”