this post was submitted on 05 Jan 2025
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Mildly Interesting

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We describe the accidental transplantation of a malignant sarcoma from a patient to a surgeon. Using molecular methods, we showed that the sarcomas in the unrelated patient and surgeon were genetically identical.

A 32-year-old man underwent emergency surgery to remove a malignant fibrous histiocytoma from his abdomen and died shortly thereafter of postoperative complications. During the operation the 53-year-old surgeon injured the palm of his left hand while placing a drain. The lesion was immediately disinfected and dressed. Five months later, the surgeon consulted a hand specialist because of a hard, circumscribed, tumor-like swelling, 3.0 cm (1.2 in.) in diameter, in his left palm at the base of the middle finger, where he had been injured during the operation. An extensive examination, including laboratory tests, did not reveal any signs of immune deficiency. The tumor was completely excised. Histologic examination revealed that it was a malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Two years later, the surgeon's condition was good, and there was no evidence of recurrence or metastasis of the tumor. The pathologist who investigated both the patient's tumor and the surgeon's tumor raised the question whether the tumors were identical.

(Quote from the actual article from 1996)

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[–] philpo@feddit.org 73 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (4 children)

The good news is: This is really really really unlikely and generally only possible for some rare types of cancer.

Unless you are an Tasmanian ~~Tiger~~ devil.

[–] Trent@lemmy.ml 27 points 3 months ago (2 children)

I think you mean Tasmanian devil, which do suffer from a freaky infectious cancer. Tasmanian tigers are extinct.

[–] philpo@feddit.org 12 points 3 months ago

Yeah,you're correct. That god damn backpack company with their misleading name must have gotten in my head again.

[–] Crewman@sopuli.xyz 5 points 3 months ago

Sshhh! They know something we don't.

[–] deranger 11 points 3 months ago (1 children)

There also have been some cases of cancer transmission from organ transplantation, particularly Kaposi’s sarcoma.

[–] philpo@feddit.org 3 points 3 months ago

And there have been cases that got infected with rabies from organ transplants. Which is a death sentence at this stage.

[–] SplashJackson@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 months ago

What about that immortal cancer dog?

[–] Forester@pawb.social 2 points 3 months ago

Dogs have a similar thing

[–] Arghblarg@lemmy.ca 23 points 3 months ago (1 children)
[–] philpo@feddit.org 5 points 3 months ago

Okay. That's definitely worse

[–] renrenPDX@lemm.ee 12 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I’d say it’s more than mildly interesting. I actually shifted in my chair reading this.

[–] Kit@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 3 months ago

I leaned forward slightly while reading it