SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA DEVELOPING WITHIN ANAL LICHEN-PLANUS - REPORTOF A CASE

AIM: We present a case of squamous-cell carcinoma developing within pe rianal lichen planus. This is a chronic or recurrent cutaneous and/or mucosal dermatosis affecting less than 1 percent of the population. Ne oplastic degeneration of cutaneous lichen planus is rare; only one cas e of squamous-cell carcinoma developing within perianal lichen planus has been described up until now in the international literature. CASE REPORT: Our case involved a 68-year-old woman with chronic, long-term lichen planus spreading all over the vulva and perianal region and the mucosa of the anal canal, where squamous-cell carcinoma developed wit hin the perianal lichen planus. Treatment consisted of wide, circular excision of the perianal skin and mucosectomy of the anal canal up to as far as 1 cm above the dentate line. Reconstruction was performed by means of two V-Y bilateral subcutaneous flaps. CONCLUSION: Wide excis ion was performed not only to remove the squamous-cell carcinoma but a lso the lichen planus to prevent recurrence of metachronous or synchro nous squamous-cell carcinoma. Follow-up at one pear after surgery show ed no local recurrence of either Lichen planus or squamous-cell carcin oma, which suggests that surgical removal should be the therapy of cho ice for long-term, chronic perianal lichen planus that has proved to b e resistant to medical therapy.