Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Distal Hallux

Squamous cell carcinoma is a common disease of cutaneous tissue with a great ability to form metastases. Squamous cell carcinoma is found most commonly on sun-damaged skin and has a rare occurrence on the toes and feet. The patient was a 68-year-old woman who was seen at a podiatric specialty office with a complaint of pain in her left great toe and toenail. Radiographs displayed erosion of the distal hallux, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed no further spread of disease in the proximal phalanx. An amputation was performed of the hallux interphalangeal joint, and pathology confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the verrucous type. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 103(2): 149–151, 2013)