Squamous cell carcinoma of the splenic flexure of the colon: Report of a case

Abstract

A 51-year-old Japanese man underwent resection of a tumor in the splenic flexure of the colon, which proved to be squamous cell carcinoma. At the time of presentation, the liver was found to have multiple metastases. On the 39th postoperative day, the patient died of liver failure. An autopsy demonstrated metastatic nodules on the pleura and parenchyma of both lungs, as well as in the liver, but failed to show any other primary squamous cell carcinoma. We emphasize that a meticulous search to disprove adenosquamous carcinoma is mandatory before a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the colon can be confirmed.

Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Colon Associated with Hypercalcemia and Hyperleukocytosis

“…Since it was first described in 1963, 15 cases of colon cancer associated with hypercalcemia have been documented, almost all of which are of adenosquamous type [7]. In only one previously reported case was hypercalcemia attributable to a pure SCC of the colon [2]. …”

“…Several studies have reported a worse prognosis compared to adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous types; however, true survival rates remain unknown [1,2,3,4]. …”

“…The first case was described in 1919 and since then approximately 60 cases have been reported in the literature[ 1]. Only one previous case has been associated with hypercalcemia[ 2]. Hyperleukocytosis has not been associated with colonic SCC.…”

An interesting case of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the colon with synchronous metastatic adenocarcinoma

“…The first ever described case of SCC bowel was in 1919 by Schmidtmann . The mean age of affected individuals is between 55 and 60 with a higher preponderance in women with a ratio of 7:1 .…”

“…Only one of these has been described in the splenic flexure . Most SCCs of the bowel are advanced cancers and are usually node positive . As such, most of the cases studied presented as emergencies, that is, acute bowel obstruction or perforation.…”