Chronic lymphoedema: a nidus for squamous cell carcinoma.

Lymphoedema is a chronic debilitating condition characterised by diffuse swelling caused by lymphatic obstruction. The secondary form of lymphoedema is more common than the primary form. Untreated filariasis remains an important cause of lymphoedema in developing countries. The most common complication of chronic lymphoedema is cellulitis. It is also a risk factor for the development of neoplasms such as lymphangiosarcoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, lymphoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma. We report a case of a woman in her 60s who developed squamous cell carcinoma in the background of chronic lymphoedema.