Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the colon associated with hypercalcemia and hyperleukocytosis. Report of a case.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Squamous cell carcinoma of the colon is a rare entity. We report a case of a patient who presented with a perforated squamous cell carcinoma of the sigmoid colon.

RESULTS

A 45-year-old female presented with a 2-month history of worsening abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting. She underwent an exploratory laparotomy and was found to have keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma of the sigmoid colon that had perforated forming multiple abscess cavities. The postoperative course was complicated by hypercalcemia and persistent hyperleukocytosis, ultimately resulting in the patient's death.

CONCLUSIONS

We present the second reported case of squamous cell carcinoma of the colon associated with hypercalcemia and the first reported case of associated hyperleukocytosis.