ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2025
Understanding fungating tumors: a retrospective study on patient characteristics, wound complications, and management insights.
Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Multidisciplinary Management of Complicated Locally Advanced and Fungating Breast Cancer: A Narrative Review.Cancers · 2026Review
- Delay in seeking medical care among breast cancer patients with malignant fungating wounds and their caregivers: a qualitative dyadic study.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeChronic fungating tumors inflict profound psychological and physical harm to patients, drastically diminishing their quality of life. However, robust quantitative data characterizing their common issues and survival are scarce. The aim of this study is to better characterize fungating wounds and to suggest management techniques.
methodsWe retrospectively reviewed charts of patients who presented with a fungating tumor at Brigham and Women's Wound Care Center between 2019 and 2024. Patient characteristics and outcomes along with wound presentation and complications were collected.
resultsSixty-two patients fit inclusion criteria. Eighty-one percent were women. Patients presented at an average age of 58. Breast cancer (68%) and melanoma (10%) were the most common etiologies. At initial presentation, patients mostly suffered from wound exudate (90%), necrosis (69%), and pain (52%). After initial presentation, 27% were admitted with sepsis, which was statistically associated with mortality, and 24% experienced bleeding episodes. At the time of this study, 61% of patients are still alive. Those who died survived an average of 309 days after presentation. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates 1-, 2-, and 5-year survival at 71%, 59%, and 51%, respectively.
conclusionPatients may live longer than previously estimated. Emphasizing a palliative, patient-centered approach may significantly enhance quality of life. Further research is essential to advancing evidence-based strategies and optimizing outcomes.
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