Source
Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Kaoshing Medical University Hospital, Taiwan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
For preservation of integrity of appearance and function in a 66-year-old male with an extremely rare case of verrucous carcinoma developing from the subungium of his right thumb, intra-arterial infusion with methotrexate was used.
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the effectiveness of arterial infusion with methotrexate in this unusual nail bed cancer.
METHODS:
Right brachial arterial catheterization and infusion with methotrexate (50 mg) were used every 24 hours together with simultaneous intramuscular injection of 6 mg of leucovorin every 6 hours for 10 days.
RESULTS:
At 4 years, 8 months after therapy, the patient was in sustained complete remission with a functionally normal right thumb.
CONCLUSION:
This case study suggests that intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy is a simple and effective method for thumb subungual verrucous carcinoma with the unique advantage of preservation of morphology and functional conditions. It can be considered an effective treatment option.