Surg Cosmet Dermatol. 2026;18(1):1-5
Malignant transformation of folliculitis decalvans (FD) into squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is rare but relevant due to its aggressive clinical course. We report the case of a 53-year-old man, a Jehovah's Witness, with a long-standing history of FD who developed rapidly progressive metastatic scalp SCC. Due to refusal of surgery, cemiplimab monotherapy (a PD-1 inhibitor) was initiated, resulting in complete resolution of the neoplasm within 12 weeks. This case highlights the risk of malignant transformation in chronic inflammatory dermatoses and suggests cemiplimab as an effective treatment option for advanced SCC when surgical resection is not feasible.
Keywords: Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Skin Ulcer; Alopecia; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; Cicatrix; Skin Neoplasms
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