Malignant degeneration of pilonidal disease in an immunosuppressed patient: Report of a case and review of the literature

PURPOSE: This report was designed to discuss the case of a patient taking immunosuppression after transplant who developed squamous-cell carcinoma in a chronic pilonidal cyst and to examine the reported literature on malignant degeneration of pilonidal disease. METHODS: We performed a comprehensive literature review and examined the medical record of a patient taking immunosuppressive medications after renal transplant who developed squamous-cell carcinoma in a chronic pilonidal cyst located at the superior gluteal cleft. CONCLUSIONS: Pilonidal disease is a common condition, and it is important to know,; that malignancy can arise when the disease is chronic. Immunosuppression and human papillomavirus infection may be predisposing factors to malignant degeneration of pilonidal cysts and mall accelerate the transformation.