SPINDLE CELL EPIDERMOID EPITHELIOMA SIMULATING SARCOMA IN CHRONIC RADIODERMATITIS

Abstract

IT IS well known that epithelioma is a frequent sequel to chronic radiodermatitis. MacKee and Cipollaro¹stated that its incidence has been reported as between 5 and 25 per cent. That the latter figure is probably more nearly correct was shown by Montgomery and Saunders,²who reported on a study of 259 cases of chronic radiodermatitis in which they observed squamous cell epithelioma in 19 per cent. Montgomery and Saunders expressed the belief that the percentage would have been considerably higher had the patients been observed for more than five years, as it is well known that cancer may occur in so-called roentgen ray skin twenty years after irradiation. It is equally well known that, as stated by Saunders and Montgomery,²MacKee³and others, the neoplasm is usually if not always of the squamous cell or prickle cell variety. Occasionally a pure basal cell epithelioma develops