Jeffrey P. Steinig, MD

This was a real case in Germany of a surgeon who sustained a scalpel injury to his left had while resecting a malignant abdominal tumour known as a fibrous histiocytoma. 5 months later, the surgeon notices a tumour arising at the same wound site on his left hand. Molecular analyses confirms the implausible - that the surgeon’s tumour was also a histiocytoma. Histopathological and DNA analyses found this to be genetically identical and indisinguishable to the patient’s tumour. The surgeon's tumour was successfully removed via surgery. 2 years later, he was in good health without signs that the tumor had spread or was returning. With surgical injuries, we tend to worry about blood borne infections, but seeding and implantation of cancer cells is a rare but possible complication. 📽️: Zack D Films