Case report Squamous cell carcinoma and metastases of malignant melanoma during immunosuppression in a patient suffering from pemphigus foliaceus – case report

Pemphigus foliaceus is a rare, superficial form of pemphigus. Due to acantholysis localised in the stratum corneum or within the upper spinous layer of the epidermis, patients suffer mainly from extensive sores, while blisters are rarely found. The antigen in this form of pemphigus is desmoglein 1. The basic therapy consists of corticosteroids and immunosuppression, but in doses lower than in common pemphigus. Long-term suppression increases the risk of non-melanocytic skin carcinomas by 60-100-fold (mainly squamous cell carcinoma). No such relationship was confirmed for malignant melanoma. We present a case of a 59-year-old man treated for pemphigus foliaceus, in whom squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip developed with multiple metastases to internal organs.