LAUSR

nosis. In a previous study, a patient who underwent routine surgical treatment for HS was found to have perinal mucinous adenocarcinoma. The surgery was followed by a combination of adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy, similar to the course of therapy in our patient, but disease recurrence in the perianal region resulted in the patient’s death 1 year post-treatment. This highlights the importance of continual follow-up in patients with a history of cancer. The aetiopathogenetic mechanisms for cancer development in recurring HS are unknown. One partial explanation may be that the chronic degeneration and ulceration creates a favourable microenvironment for cancer growth. The diagnosis of cancer in patients with HS is often delayed because of the formation of fistulas and abscesses. When a diagnosis is established, the tumour may be > 50 mm in diameter and may have already metastasized. A published report demonstrated that a 10-mm lesion of HS can lead to the development of cancer. Although cancer development is a rare association, prompt diagnosis and treatment of HS may improve the overall prognosis of the disease and prevent this fatal outcome.