Squamous Cell Carcinoma Following Long-term Exposition to Arsenic in the Porcelain Industry

The incidence of epithelial skin tumors, such as squamous cell carcinomas, increases significantly worldwide. Many risk factors for their occurrence are already known, such as long-standing arsenic exposure. We report on the case of a 78-year-old female patient who has been working as a painter in the porcelain industry for more than 30 years. She presented herself in the clinic because of an exophytic fast growing tumor on the back of her left hand. Histologically, the diagnosis of a squamous cell carcinoma could be established. The patient reported a long-standing job-related contact with cobalt colors. Cobalt often is contaminated with arsenic, and as speiskobalt forms the most common cobalt ore, an arsenic cobalt. Speiskobalt was an important cobalt ore for cobalt colors in the porcelain industry. With regard to the toxicity of arsenic, including its carcinogenic effect, as well as the temporal and local link between the patient's profession and the occurrence of the squamous cell carcinoma, we suspected the occupational disease No. 1108 (according to the Occupational Diseases Ordinance).