Tongue squamous cell carcinoma in a patient with systemic sclerosis: A case report

Objective: Systemic sclerosis (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of connective tissue, which involves skin and internal organs, and results in collagen deposition and fibroblasts activation. Studies have reported a higher risk of malignancy in patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS).The aim of this study is to report a case of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in a patient with PSS. Case: A 46-year-old woman with SS presented to the Department of Oral Medicine of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Dental School with chief complaint of an ulcer on her tongue. During intraoral examination, an asymptomatic ulcer measuring 2.0×1.5 cm was discovered on the right lateral border of the tongue. Incisional biopsy under local anesthesia was performed and histopathological report confirmed presence of squamous cell carcinoma. After further evaluation, surgery was performed, followed by three sessions of brachytherapy and six sessions of chemotherapy. After 26 months of follow-up, there was no evidence of recurrence. Conclusion: Periodic screening examinations are necessary to discover possible malignancies in primary stages in patients with SS.