Carcinomatous degeneration in sebaceous cysts

Abstract A report is made of a huge fungating squamous cell carcinoma of the scalp resulting from an ulcerated sebaceous cyst. There was evidence of a familial tendency towards sebaceous cysts. Reports from the literature indicate that malignant degeneration of sebaceous cysts may occur in as high as 4.3 per cent of patients. This would seem to indicate that all sebaceous cysts should be removed while they are simple and uncomplicated.