In order to study possible connections between Dupuytren's contracture and sarcoma we analysed the records of 18 patients who developed sarcoma 5 years or more after surgery for Dupuytren's contracture. We found an increased frequency of fibrosarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma, but these patients did not differ from the other patients in the study group. Our analysis suggests that neither smoking, diabetes nor cancer syndromes can explain why patients with Dupuytren's contracture have a higher incidence of sarcoma.
Copyright 2002 The British Society for Surgery of the Hand.