Fungating lesion

A fungating lesion is a skin lesion that fungates, that is, becomes like a fungus in its appearance or growth rate. It is marked by ulcerations (breaks on the skin or surface of an organ) and necrosis (death of living tissue) and usually presents a foul odor. This kind of lesion may occur in many types of cancer, including breast cancer, melanoma, and squamous cell carcinoma, and especially in advanced disease. The characteristic malodorous smell is caused by dimethyl trisulfide.[1] It is usually not a fungal infection but rather a neoplastic growth with necrosing portions.

There is a weak evidence that 6% miltefosine solution applied topically on superficial fungating breast lesion less than 1 cm who received previous radiotherapy, surgery, hormonal therapy or chemotherapy for their breast cancer, may slow the disease progression.[2]

References
  1. Shirasu M, Nagai S, Hayashi R, Ochiai A, Touhara K (September 2009). "Dimethyl trisulfide as a characteristic odor associated with fungating cancer wounds". Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry. 73 (9): 2117–20. doi:10.1271/bbb.90229. PMID 19734656. S2CID 28235413.
  2. Adderley UJ, Holt IG, et al. (Cochrane Wounds Group) (May 2014). "Topical agents and dressings for fungating wounds". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (5): CD003948. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003948.pub3. PMC 6464725. PMID 24832784.

 This article incorporates public domain material from Dictionary of Cancer Terms. U.S. National Cancer Institute.

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