Verrucous Carcinoma of the Foot - Report of Two Cases

Abstract

Verrucous carcinoma (VC) is a rare variant of a well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with a low grade of malignancy. Epithelioma cuniculatum (EC) is a subtype of VC, usually found on the sole of the foot. Two patients, a 55-year-old female, and a 77-year-old male, with VC were treated at the Clinic of Dermatology and Venereology, Clinical Center of Serbia, from 2002 to 2011. Both patients presented with a tumor on the foot. Incisional biopsies showed a well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Foot x-rays showed bone involvement in one case. One patient underwent surgical amputation of the lower extremity, while the other had a partial amputation of the affected foot. In the initial stage of the disease, it is difficult to distinguish pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia from verrucous carcinoma. The superficial biopsy of EC lesion may mislead to a histopathological diagnosis of warts or condylomas. Multiple deep biopsies are necessary for accurate and timely diagnosis of verrucous carcinoma.