[Burn scar carcinoma (author's transl)].

A patient suffering extensive burns on the back of the head from a heavy current accident in 1946 later had to undergo a craniotomy in this region. An ulcer later formed in the scar leading to a great defect of the cranial bone. 35 years after the accident a squamous cell carcinoma was established for the first time in the rim of the scar ulcer. The patient died in August 1981 of an acute coronary-artery insufficiency. In the autopsy an osteomalacia of the whole cranial bone after removal by operation of a horny squamous cell carcinoma, as well as a cerebral malacia were found. Based on the literature (31 references) on relations between burn scars and the later formation of carcinoma, the carcinoma was recognised as resulting from the accident.