Plantar verrucous carcinoma. Literature review and treatment by the Mohs' chemosurgery technique.

Verrucous carcinoma, a variant of squamous cell carcinoma, is recognized as a distinct clinicopathologic entity. It occurs principally in three anatomic sites: panoral, genitogluteal, and plantar. Two cases of plantar verrucous carcinoma treated by the Mohs' chemosurgery technique are reported, and the literature is reviewed. The clinical and pathologic appearance of these lesions make them recognizable in a patient with a persistent plantar lesion usually diagnosed as a wart but unresponsive to conventional therapy. The role of irradiation, a possible viral etiology of the tumor, and the necessity for a deep biopsy are discussed. Because these tumors are characterized by extensive local growth, Mohs' chemosurgery is proposed as the treatment of choice. In this way, total tumor ablation is obtained with maximum preservation of normal tissue structure and function.