Leg skin ulcer with atypical features: vascular wound or advanced melanoma?

BACKGROUND: Leg ulcers have various etiologies, including malignancy, although vascular issues are the most frequent cause. Malignant wounds present diagnostic challenges, with a reported prevalence rate ranging from 0.4% to 23%. This significant variability in reported prevalence appears to be due to the different settings in which data are collected, which suggests potential influence by medical specialty. Consequently, the misdiagnosis of neoplastic ulcers (eg, ulcerated melanoma) as vascular wounds is relatively common, leading to delayed diagnosis, inadequate treatment, and a dramatic worsening of the patient's prognosis. Identifying malignancy in nonresponsive wounds involves recognizing signs such as hypertrophic granulation tissue, bleeding, unusual pigmentation, and raised edges. The appearance of the perilesional skin, together with dermoscopic observation, is also crucial to differentiation. Ultimately, a biopsy may provide valuable diagnostic clarification. CASE REPORT: A case is presented of lower limb melanoma that for years was misdiagnosed as a vascular wound by multiple specialists, with delayed referral to a dermatologist and resulting recognition and diagnosis, at which time nodular satellite metastases were found. Dermoscopy and biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. The disease was already advanced, with in-transit and distant site metastases, and the prognosis was regrettably poor. CONCLUSION: This case underscores the importance of early detection and accurate diagnosis of malignant wounds, emphasizing the need to refer patients with suspicious nonresponsive ulcers to a dermatologist.

A case of lower limb ulcer caused by hydroxyurea in treating primary thrombocytosis.

Hydroxyuria is a common medication for treating blood system diseases, but ulcers in the lower limbs caused by this medication are often rare and not often suspected. We reported an elderly patient with lower limb ulcers caused by hydroxyurea treatment for primary thrombocytosis. When hydroxide is used, close observation of skin lesions and prompt handling of any skin disruption should prevent ulcers.

Diagnosing and Managing Venous Stasis Disease and Leg Ulcers.

Venous insufficiency is a common medical condition that affects many individuals, especially those with advanced age. Chronic venous insufficiency can lead to secondary cutaneous changes that most commonly present as stasis dermatitis but can progress to more serious venous ulcers. Although venous ulcers are the most common cause of lower extremity ulcers, the differential diagnosis of leg ulcers is broad. This article will discuss clinical clues to help guide patient workup and will review basic clinical evaluation and management of common leg ulcers.

32-year-old Traumatic Arteriovenous Fistula Presenting With Leg Ulcer and High-output Heart Failure.

Traumatic arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is not a common disorder, and dermatological signs and heart failure caused by AVF are rarely reported. We present the case of a 55-year-old woman who was referred for congestive heart failure symptoms. Echocardiography revealed preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. Due to edema of the right leg with a long-standing leg ulcer and palpable femoral thrill, duplex ultrasonography was performed. It showed an AVF between the right superficial femoral artery (SFA) and the right femoral vein (FV). The patient recalled a 32-year-old gunshot injury that was not medically treated. After the diagnosis of AVF she was referred to a surgeon for an AVF ligation, with subsequent resolution of her symptoms. The differential diagnosis of leg ulcer with leg edema should include the possibility of AVF as a cause.

The effectiveness of adalimumab as an add-on therapy in two cases with leg ulcers in Behçet's disease resistant to conventional immunosuppressive therapy alone and a review of the literature.

The current report presents two cases with leg ulcers related to Behçet's disease (BD) resistant to conventional immunosuppressive therapy (CIST) but successfully treated with adalimumab (ADA). BD, which can affect vessels of any size and type, is a systemic vasculitis. In the vascular system, veins are the most predominantly affected blood vessels, with deep vein thrombosis and recurrent superficial vein thrombophlebitis being the most common vascular signs of the disease in the lower extremities. Leg ulcers, commonly associated with vasculitis or deep vein thrombosis, are rare in patients with BD. Conventional immunosuppressive therapy is very critical to prevent relapses and diminish the risk of post-thrombotic syndrome. In patients with BD-associated venous thrombosis (deep vein thrombosis or superficial vein thrombophlebitis) resistant to these treatments, tumour necrosis factor-α inhibitors can be used alone or in combination with traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. In view of such information, add-on adalimumab treatment was considered appropriate for both patients. Response to this intervention was highly satisfying for the patients at the end of the 6-month treatment. Nonetheless, it warrants further studies directly evaluating the efficacy of tumour necrosis factor-α inhibitors alone in leg ulcers in BD.

Clinical Manifestation of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Following a Mechanical Trauma.

Unusual skin ulcers frequently represent a diagnostic challenge. When the most common disease entities such as arterial, venous or diabetic ulcers have been excluded, the question of further differential diagnoses and procedures arises. Other possible causes include chronic inflammatory diseases, neoplasia, self-inflicted wounds, primary infectious diseases and physical/chemical damage to the skin. To narrow down the differential diagnoses, a detailed history of the patient is essential, which also needs to include events further back in time.

The Influence of Combined Physical Therapy Procedures on Oxygen Partial Pressure in Tissues Surrounding Ulcer in Patients With Venous Leg Ulcers.

Venous ulcers in lower legs remain a profound treatment problem in contemporary medicine. Proper healing requires, among other things, sufficient blood supply and provision of suitable amount of oxygen to the treated tissues. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of combined physical therapy applied in patients with chronic venous leg ulcers on the oxygen partial pressure values. Fifty-four patients (25 females and 29 males), in the age range of 38 to 89 years with chronic venous leg ulcers, underwent a cycle of 15 procedures with the use of Laserobaria-S device. During a procedure, the patient's lower limb was simultaneously exposed to oxygen having the pressure of 1.5 ATA, low-frequency magnetic field, and low-energy light radiation. Before procedures, directly after the first procedure, as well as on completion of the entire therapeutic cycle, the patients underwent oxygen partial pressure measurements in the tissues surrounding the ulceration area, by means of transcutaneous oximetry, with the use of Medicap Précise 8008s device. The combined physical therapy shows a statistically significant increase of oxygen partial pressure values in tissues surrounding the ulceration, from the average of 68.63 ± 17.04 mm Hg before commencing the therapeutic cycle, to the average of 74.20 ± 18.92 mm Hg after the first procedure (P < .001) and to the average value of 83.79 ± 20.74 mm Hg (P < .001) after completion of therapeutic cycle. Combined physical therapy procedures cause a statistically significant increase of oxygen partial pressure values in tissues surrounding the ulceration, assessed using the objective method of transcutaneous oximetry, both in women and men.

A Case Report on Treatment of Nonhealing Leg Ulcer: Do Not Forget the Underlying Disease.

Prevalence of nonhealing ulcers of lower extremities has increased over years causing heavy health, social, and economic burdens. Chronic ulcers are difficult to treat since they require tailored multistep treatment and patient compliance. To treat chronic wounds successfully, clinicians must keep in mind the ulcer etiology as well as the underlying diseases. Several factors may be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic skin ulcers. Leukocytoclastic vasculitis belongs to the group of immune vascular diseases and may be an extrahepatic manifestation of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We describe the case of a patient with a nonhealing vasculitic leg ulcer and chronic HCV infection successfully treated with the combination of advanced dermal substitute and direct-acting antiviral therapy. An 81-year-old female presented to our unit with a 6-month history of a leg ulcer that developed from an exudating skin nodule. At presentation, the lesion was large,caused a severe pain and was unresponsive to analgesics. Skin biopsy showed leukocytoclastic vasculitis. She had a history of old untreated HCV infection, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic venous insufficiency and tibial arteriopathy. The application of porcine-derived dermal substitute achieved only initial improvement. Therefore, direct-acting antiviral therapy was started, and when HCV RNA became undetectable in blood, pain disappeared and skin ulcer improved up to healing. In conclusion vasculitic leg ulcers can be caused by HCV infection. In such cases, even the use of innovative skin therapy, may obtain only initial and partial improvement, and eradication of HCV viremiais essential to obtain wound healing.

Longitudinal Evaluation of Biomarkers in Wound Fluids from Venous Leg Ulcers and Split-thickness Skin Graft Donor Site Wounds Treated with a Protease-modulating Wound Dressing.

Venous leg ulcers represent a clinical challenge and impair the quality of life of patients. This study examines impaired wound healing in venous leg ulcers at the molecular level. Protein expression patterns for biomarkers were analysed in venous leg ulcer wound fluids from 57 patients treated with a protease-modulating polyacrylate wound dressing for 12 weeks, and compared with exudates from 10 acute split-thickness wounds. Wound healing improved in the venous leg ulcer wounds: 61.4% of the 57 patients with venous leg ulcer achieved a relative wound area reduction of ≥ 40%, and 50.9% of the total 57 patients achieved a relative wound area reduction of ≥ 60%. Within the first 14 days, abundances of S100A8, S100A9, neutrophil elastase, matrix metalloproteinase-2, and fibronectin in venous leg ulcer exudates decreased significantly and remained stable, yet higher than in acute wounds. Interleukin-1ß, tumour necrosis factor alpha, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 abundance ranges were similar in venous leg ulcers and acute wound fluids. Collagen (I) α1 abundance was higher in venous leg ulcer wound fluids and was not significantly regulated. Overall, significant biomarker changes occurred in the first 14 days before a clinically robust healing response in the venous leg ulcer cohort.

Síndrome de úlceras en piernas de carácter familiar y comienzo precoz / Familial Leg Ulcer Syndrome of Early Onset

Introducción: Las úlceras en las piernas son llagas sin sanar o lesiones abiertas de etiología multifactorial. Constituyen una patología importante en la práctica diaria de los profesionales de la salud en todos los niveles de asistencia. Objetivo: Presentar un caso infrecuente con una afección genética hereditaria familiar que provocó lesiones ulcerosas en las extremidades inferiores. Presentación del caso: Paciente masculino de 30 años con lesiones ulcerosas en ambos miembros inferiores, de 18 años de años de evolución, muy dolorosas con signos de infección local severa. Presentó diagnóstico de úlceras inespecíficas en ambos miembros inferiores. Fue ingresado con toma de su estado general, gran limitación de la deambulación, dolor intenso en ambas piernas, lesiones abundantes ulcerosas sucias diseminadas en ambas piernas, de fondo amarillento, con secreción amarilla clara, muy fétida. Se realizó estudio clínico, humoral, imagenológico, microbiológico y anátomo-histopatológico. Conclusiones: Se diagnostica síndrome de úlceras en piernas de carácter familiar y comienzo precoz, de herencia recesiva ligada al cromosoma X. Se requieren estudios a mayor escala para evaluar las contribuciones de los factores genéticos en la génesis de esta enfermedad, los cuales podrían ser la clave para comprender mejor su desarrollo(AU)

Introduction: Leg ulcers are unhealed sores or open lesions of multifactorial etiology. They constitute an important pathology in the daily practice of health professionals at all levels of care. Objective: To report an infrequent case with a familial hereditary genetic condition that caused ulcerative lesions in the lower limbs. Case report: We report the case of a 30-year-old male patient with ulcerative lesions on both lower limbs, 18 years of evolution, very painful with signs of severe local infection. He had diagnosis of nonspecific ulcers in both lower limbs. He was admitted with poor general condition, great limitation of ambulation, intense pain in both legs, abundant dirty yellowish ulcerative lesions scattered on both legs, and light yellow, very foul-smelling discharge. A clinical, humoral, imaging, microbiological and anatomical-histopathological study was performed. Conclusions: The diagnosis was familial leg ulcer syndrome of early onset, recessive inheritance linked to the X chromosome, is diagnosed. Larger scale studies are required to assess the contributions of genetic factors in the genesis of this disease, which could be the key to better understand its development(AU)

Early ABI Testing May Decrease Risk of Amputation for Patients With Lower Extremity Ulcers.

BACKGROUND: Patients with lower extremity wounds from diabetes mellitus or peripheral artery disease (PAD) have a risk of amputation as high as 25%. In patients with arterial disease, revascularization decreases the risk of amputation. We aimed to determine if the early assessment of arterial perfusion correlates with the risk of amputation. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients referred to the vascular clinic over 18 months with Rutherford Grade 5 and 6 chronic limb-threatening ischemia to determine if patients had a pulse exam done at the time the wound was identified and when ankle brachial index (ABI) testing to evaluate perfusion was performed. Kaplan Meier analysis was used to determine if the timing of ABI testing affected the time to revascularization, wound healing, and risk of amputation. RESULTS: Ninety-three patients with lower extremity wounds were identified. Of these, 59 patients (63%) did not have a pulse exam performed by their primary care provider when the wound was identified. Patients were classified by when they underwent ankle brachial index testing to assess arterial perfusion. Twenty-four had early ABI (<30 days) testing, with the remaining 69 patients having late ABI testing. Patients in the early ABI group were more likely to have a pulse exam done by their PCP than those in the late group, 12 (50%) vs. 22 (32%), P = 0.03. Early ABI patients had a quicker time to vascular referral (13 days vs. 91 days, P < 0.001). Early ABI patients also had quicker times to wound healing than those in the late group (117 days vs. 287 days, P < 0.001). Finally, patients that underwent early ABI were less likely to require amputation (Fig. 1), although this did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: Early ABI testing expedites specialty referral and time to revascularization. It can decrease the time to wound healing. Larger cohort studies are needed to determine the overall effect of early ABI testing to decrease amputation rates.

Ulcerative necrobiosis lipoidica: case report of an atypical presentation and literature review.

Necrobiosis lipoidica (NL) is a rare chronic granulomatous degenerative skin disease by unknown causes, which is mostly associated with diabetes mellitus, usually presenting with typical plaques of the shins. Although less common, some ulcerative forms may be seen in clinical practice. The occurrence of an atypical presentation in one of our patients was the occasion to review the pertinent literature.

Capillary-venule malformation is a microfistulous variant of arteriovenous malformation.

OBJECTIVE: To describe typical clinical presentation of patients with microfistular, capillary-venule (CV) malformation as a variant form of arteriovenous malformations (AVM). METHODS: A retrospective clinical analysis of 15 patients with CV-AVM confirmed by a computational flow model enrolled in a prospective database of patients with congenital vascular malformation between January 2008 and May 2018. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients at first time of presentation was 30 years with balanced sex ratio. Presentation was dominated by soft tissue hypertrophy (n = 12 [80.0%]) and atypical varicose veins (n = 11 [73.3%]). The anatomic location of enlarged varicose veins gave no uniform pattern and did not correspond with the typical picture of primary varicose vein disease. Most often, symptomatic CV-AVM was found at the lower extremities in this series of unselected patients. The most frequent compartment affected was the subcutis (n = 14 [93.3%]), involvement of muscle was recorded in one-third and cutis in one-fourth of patients. CONCLUSIONS: A high grade of clinical suspicion is needed to recognize CV-AVM and to prevent inadequate therapy owing to missed diagnosis.

[Long-term healing of a therapy-refractory venous leg ulcer after crural fasciectomy and split skin graft transplantation]. / Langfristige Abheilung eines therapierefraktären Ulcus cruris venosum nach kruraler Fasziektomie und Spalthauttransplantation.

A 59-year-old obese woman had been suffering from a painful, chronic leg ulcer since 1986. We diagnosed a venous leg ulcer due to functional chronic venous insufficiency in the context of obesity per magna (dependency syndrome) and arthrogenic congestion syndrome due to immobility. Although a high ligation and stripping of the great saphenous vein and several so-called shave therapies with split skin transplantation after appropriate wound bed preparation had been previously performed, the wound persisted. In 2012, the patient wanted to amputate her leg because the course of wound healing was so refractory to therapy and she suffered from severe pain. As an alternative to amputation, we performed a crural fascietomy and, after a wound bed preparation with two cycles of negative pressure wound therapy, we covered the defect with a split skin graft using the mesh graft technique. The surgery could be performed without complications and the skin healed completely. At the current presentation 7 years after the intervention, complete healing of the previously therapy-refractory venous leg ulcer was shown despite the persistent obesity per magna and immobility. This case report shows that a crural fasciectomy should be considered, especially in the case of otherwise therapy-refractory courses of venous leg ulcers.

[An unusually painful leg ulcer in an 81-year-old patient: an interdisciplinary challenge]. / Außergewöhnlich schmerzhaftes Ulcus cruris bei einem 81­jährigen Patienten ­ eine interdisziplinäre Herausforderung.

An 81-year-old male patient with a history of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) was admitted to the authors' outpatient clinic with a painful lower leg ulcer. As the degree of PAD did not correspond to the clinical findings, multiple biopsies were taken from the base and edge of the ulcer. This resulted in the histopathological and clinical diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum (PG). Since PG is often associated with numerous underlying diseases, further thorough examinations were performed. A mass in the gastric antrum suspicious for malignancy was histopathologically identified as gastric cancer (signet ring cell carcinoma). The PG was successfully treated with cortisone p.o. and tacrolimus ointment. Since the cancer was locally limited, the patient underwent surgery involving gastric resection with D2 lymphadenectomy and gastrojejunostomy (Roux-en­Y anastomosis).

Consensus on the diagnosis and management of chronic leg ulcers - Brazilian Society of Dermatology

Abstract Background: Chronic leg ulcers affect a large portion of the adult population and cause a significant social and economic impact, related to outpatient and hospital care, absence from work, social security expenses, and reduced quality of life. The correct diagnosis and therapeutic approach are essential for a favorable evolution. Objective: To gather the experience of Brazilian dermatologists, reviewing the specialized literature to prepare recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of the main types of chronic leg ulcers. Methods: Seven specialists from six university centers with experience in chronic leg ulcers were appointed by the Brazilian Society of Dermatology to reach a consensus on the diagnosis and therapeutic management of these ulcers. Based on the adapted DELPHI methodology, relevant elements were considered in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic leg ulcers of the most common causes; then, the recent literature was analyzed using the best scientific evidence. Results: The following themes were defined as relevant for this consensus - the most prevalent differential etiological diagnoses of chronic leg ulcers (venous, arterial, neuropathic, and hypertensive ulcers), as well as the management of each one. It also included the topic of general principles for local management, common to chronic ulcers, regardless of the etiology. Conclusion: This consensus addressed the main etiologies of chronic leg ulcers and their management based on scientific evidence to assist dermatologists and other health professionals and benefit the greatest number of patients with this condition.