Interscapulo-thoracic amputation for recurring epidermoid adenocarcinoma in the axilla. A case report

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma is the second cause of death from skin cancer. It usually appears from precursor lesions, such as actinic keratosis or Bowen's disease (carcinoma in situ), also in irradiated skin or on chronic or de novo inflammatory lesions. The definitive diagnosis is established by biopsy of the lesion and examination with histopathology. Interscapulothoracic disarticulation is a surgical technique used for the resection of tumors located in the shoulder girdle. It is a mutilating surgery, with important functional and psychological implications for the patient; it is reserved only for specific cases. KEYWORDS: squamous cell carcinoma, interscapulo-thoracic amputation, recurrence