Introduction: The development of cancer from burn scars is rare but not exceptional since 1 to 2 p. 100 of cutaneous cancers develop on burn scars.
Patients and methods: We report a retrospective study of 62 cases arising from burn scars that account for 25 years at the Institute Salah Azaiez in Tunis. The epidemiological, clinic and prognosis characteristics of these cancers are discussed.
Results: Forty-five patients were male and seventeen were female. Their age varied from 22 to 83 years, with a mean age of 51.5 years. Limbs were affected in 85 p. 100 of the cases and the lower limbs in 58 p. 100. The mean size of the tumour was of 97 mm. Squamous cell carcinomas were the most frequent cancers arising from burn scar (95 p. 100). Basal cell carcinoma is arising only in two cases and malignant melanoma in one case. The treatment was curative for 49 patients: surgery and radiotherapy (31 cases), surgery only (14 cases) and radiotherapy (4 cases). The overall survival at 2 years, 3 years and 5 years was respectively 49.5 p. 100; 41.5 p. 100 and 37 p. 100.
Discussion: The improvement of prognosis depends not only on an earlier diagnosis and treatment, but also on the appropriate management of burns when they occurred.