Squamous cell carcinoma of lower back skin after acupuncture

Abstract

A 69-year-old male was referred for the evaluation and excision of histologically diagnosed squamous cell carcinoma of his lower back. The tumor was dome-shaped, eroded, hemorrhagic, and 50×50×7 mm in size. Notably, numerous black to dark bluish punctate spots surrounded the tumor base. The pigmented spots indicated numerous acupuncture sites from treatments that the patient had undergone over a period of 20 years. Histopathology of the spots showed lichenification, suggesting a connection with the genesis of squamous cell carcinoma, as well as with the local trauma caused by excessive acupuncture treatments.[Skin Cancer (Japan) 2016 ; 31 : 285-289]