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Malignancy in chronic leg ulcers
Author(s) -
Yang Danian,
Morrison Brendan D,
Vandongen Yvonne K,
Singh Amarjeet,
Stacey Michael C
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1996.tb122269.x
Subject(s) - medicine , malignancy , leg ulcer , basal cell carcinoma , basal cell , biopsy , surgery , dermatology
Objective To evaluate the frequency of malignant ulcers in patients presenting with leg ulcers. Design A descriptive study from data collected between July 1988 and June 1995 from 981 patients (2448 ulcers) attending a leg ulcer clinic. Setting A specialised leg ulcer clinic at a tertiary teaching hospital. Subjects 43 patients with 55 malignant skin lesions. Outcome measures Tissue biopsies in ulcerated lesions that suggested malignancy or were not responding to appropriate treatment. Results Forty‐three patients were found to have malignant lesions on the legs, giving a frequency of malignant ulcers of 4.4 per 100 leg ulcer patients, or 2.2 per 100 leg ulcers. Seventy‐five per cent of the malignant ulcers were basal cell carcinoma and 25% were squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusions Malignant skin changes are common in chronic leg ulcers. A biopsy should be taken from all suspicious ulcers or ulcers that do not respond to appropriate treatment.