Evolving perineal lesion in a smoking patient: What diagnosis to consider?

Chronic perineal lesions, especially when progressive and associated with weight loss, should raise concern for serious conditions, particularly malignancies. We report the case of a 59-year-old male, a chronic smoker and regular cannabis user, who presented with a progressive ulcerative perineal lesion evolving over four years without medical evaluation and treated exclusively with traditional remedies. Clinical examination revealed a large, painful, inflammatory ulceration with necrotic areas. Histopathological analysis confirmed a moderately differentiated, infiltrating squamous cell carcinoma. Staging investigations classified the tumor as T4N1aM0 (stage IIIb). A diverting sigmoidostomy was performed, followed by concomitant chemoradiotherapy. Clinical course was favorable, with marked symptomatic improvement and radiological regression of the tumor mass. This case highlights the importance of early diagnosis of suspicious lesions, particularly in patients with risk factors, and underlines the critical role of multidisciplinary management in improving the prognosis of perineal squamous cell carcinomas.