Cutaneous manifestations of chronic arsenicism: Review of seventeen cases☆,☆☆
Section snippets
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Case records of all patients with a histologic diagnosis of BD, SCC, and BCC from January 1990 to December 1996 were retrospectively reviewed and those who also had a history of exposure to arsenic were included. Patients were interviewed and a complete skin and systemic examination was performed. Patient data as well as details of chronic arsenicism and its related skin manifestations were obtained from patients' records and interviews. Appropriate investigations were made when internal
Demographic and clinical data (Table I)
Patient No. Age (yr)/Sex Source of referral Referring diagnosis Presenting diagnosis Asthma Concomitant diseases Source of arsenic Smoking CXR Etretinate 1 69/M GP Pigmented rash Multiple BD, SCC Y N CM Y Normal Y 2 63/M GP Skin cancer Multiple BD Y D, HPT CM Y Normal Y 3 71/M GP Lichen planus Multiple BD Y N CM N Normal Y 4 52/F GP Scaly rash BD (right arm) Y Schizophrenia CM N Normal N 5 66/M GP Solar keratosis Multiple BD Y D, depression CM + WW Y Normal N 6 63/M GP Viral warts Palmar
DISCUSSION
Arsenic-induced skin tumors are infrequently seen at the National Skin Centre in Singapore, although the true incidence in the community is unknown. Fourteen of 17 patients (82%) took CPMs for asthma during the 1950s and 1960s. Sin Lak Asthma Pill (one of the CPMs commonly used in Singapore for the treatment of asthma), linked to various systemic and skin diseases,5 was banned in 1972 because of its excessive content of inorganic arsenic sulfide.
Fowler first introduced medicinal arsenic in 1786.
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2023, Skin Health and DiseaseIatrogenic arsenicosis in a young female causing cosmetic distress
2022, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology
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Reprint requests: Sai Siong Wong, MRCP(UK), National Skin Centre, 1 Mandalay Rd., Singapore 308205.
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