A tragedy of albinism

Keywords: Albinism, amputation, forequarter, squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

We would like to bring to your attention the plight of a 45-year-old epileptic, HIV-positive African male with oculo-cutaneous albinism (OCA). He presented to the dermatology department of a tertiary hospital in Gauteng in 2019 with a fungating mass on his left hand that had been progressively enlarging for a year. Surprisingly, a diagnosis of hyperkeratotic actinic keratosis with mild dysplasia was found on biopsy and he was treated conservatively. 

Author Biographies

F B Aboo, University of the Witwatersrand

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

P M Kgagudi, University of the Witwatersrand

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

M Jingo, University of the Witwatersrand

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

Published
2023-05-18
How to Cite
Aboo, F., Kgagudi, P., & Jingo, M. (2023). A tragedy of albinism. South African Journal of Surgery, 61(1), 152-153. Retrieved from http://sajs.redbricklibrary.com/index.php/sajs/article/view/3989
Section
Letters