A Case of Cutaneous Fistula of the Chest Presenting as a Fixed Nodule after Blunt Chest Trauma

Seon Hwa Lee, Kyung Duck Park, Yong Hyun Jang, Weon Ju Lee, Seok Jong Lee, Jun Young Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

An 83-year-old man presented with an intermittently bleeding fixed nodule on the left side of the chest for 2 months. Due to the clinical suspicion of metastatic cancer or a ruptured epidermal cyst, a punch biopsy was performed, which revealed granulation tissue. During surgical excision, a connection between the granulation tissue and the deeper structure was confirmed. Based on the clinicopathological findings, a cutaneous fistula was suspected; a detailed history revealed that he had experienced blunt chest trauma in a motorcycle accident 2 months before. Subsequent chest computed tomography showed soft tissue infiltration in the left sixth rib. Finally, the patient was diagnosed with a cutaneous fistula and underwent resection of the left sixth rib and costal cartilage. Cutaneous fistulae rarely occur in the chest. In cases where a recalcitrant inflammatory nodule is observed on the chest, the patient's trauma history and ordinary medical history should be evaluated to rule out a cutaneous fistula.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)229-233
Number of pages5
JournalKorean Journal of Dermatology
Volume59
Issue number3
StatePublished - 2021

Keywords

  • Cutaneous fistula
  • Injuries
  • Thorax
  • Wounds

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