China Journal of Leprosy and Skin Diseases ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (2): 127-131.doi: 10.12144/zgmfskin202602127

• Case Reports • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Multiple cutaneous tumors associated with chronic arsenic exposure: a case report

ZHANG Mengmeng*, WU Xuejingzi*, SONG Jiquan, JIANG Si   

  1. Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China *Co-first authors
  • Online:2026-02-15 Published:2026-01-28

Abstract: Individuals with long-term arsenic environmental exposure have a significantly increased risk of developing skin tumors, with common types including Bowen's disease, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma. We report a 38-year-old male who had taken arsenic-containing traditional Chinese medicine orally for 1 year during adolescence to treat osteomyelitis. Twenty years later, he concurrently developed cutaneous Merkel cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, Bowen's disease, and arsenical keratosis. A history of arsenic exposure may be associated with the development of multi-site skin tumors.

Key words: Merkel cell carcinoma, Bowen's disease, squamous cell carcinoma, arsenical ketatosis, arsenic