Verrucous carcinoma of the foot, not your typical plantar wart: a case study

Foot (Edinb). 2014 Jun;24(2):94-8. doi: 10.1016/j.foot.2014.03.009. Epub 2014 Apr 3.

Abstract

Statement of purpose: Verrucous carcinoma of the foot is often misdiagnosed initially as plantar warts. Delayed diagnostic treatments with the use of optimal biopsy techniques may result in significant hindrances for patient care and may often result in detrimental outcomes to the patient. With the use of various epidermal biopsy methods, early diagnostic treatment can be implemented to a slow-growing lesion unresponsive to topical agents preventing unfavorable pedal amputations.

Design: A case study of verrucous carcinoma of the foot with surgical resection was conducted along with a literature review.

Background: Verrucous carcinoma (VC) of the foot is known to be a rare, locally invasive, well-differentiated low-grade squamous cell carcinoma that may evolve from the human papilloma virus. This localized tumor of the foot often has low metastatic potential, however can be quite invasive. It is therefore pertinent to obtain adequate radiological studies when planning for surgical resection of this tumor. When localized to the foot, it often involves deep structures such as tendons, muscle & bone. Complete wide local excision of the tumor is essential to avoid recurrence. We present a case of verrucous carcinoma of the foot in a 46-year-old African American male with a past medical history of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Human papilloma virus (HPV). The patient refused a Transmetatarsal amputation. The loss of the third digit was a result of tissue loss following resection and an attempt to relocate a severely laterally dislocated 3rd digit, not PVD.

Keywords: Carcinoma Biopsy; Human papilloma; Verrucous; Virus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy
  • Carcinoma, Verrucous / diagnosis*
  • Carcinoma, Verrucous / surgery
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Foot Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Orthopedic Procedures / methods*
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Skin Neoplasms / surgery
  • Surgical Flaps*