Case of a squamous cell carcinoma associated with a subcutaneous foreign body

Nonmelanoma skin cancer, consisting of squamous and basal cell carcinoma, is the most common malignancy in the United States. The most common risk factor is exposure to ultraviolet radiation; however, these malignancies have also developed at sites of exposure to industrial agents, ionizing radiation, and areas of chronic inflammation. This case details an 85-year-old white male who presented with a squamous cell carcinoma that developed proximate to a subcutaneous metallic foreign body. The lesion was successfully excised with negative margins. We review the literature and discuss potential mechanisms of foreign body carcinogenesis.