Self-inflicted injury as a potential trigger for carcinoma of lip - a case report.

OBJECTIVES: To report a case of an elderly patient with an unstable mental condition, presenting with the carcinoma of lip due to repeated toothpick injury. BACKGROUND: Self-induced lesions of the face and mouth may be a manifestation of unusual or aggressive oral habits or an emotional disorder. The deliberate creation of orofacial lesions, is an indication of underlying psychiatric disease. Betel quid chewing is the major risk factor for oral cancer. It conditions the oral mucosa towards the development of cancer. Repeated trauma by self mutilation on such a conditioned mucosa can lead to the development of cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A male patient aged 85 years reported the complaint of a growth on the left side of the lower lip. Trauma followed by self inflicted injury had predisposed to the formation of cancer. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of self inflicted lesions are challenging as the histories of these lesions tend to be vague and misleading. Our knowledge in this particular pathology is limited mainly because of diagnostic difficulties and lack of solid statistical data.