Seven cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) arising in chronic neuropathic plantar ulcers of leprosy are described. These patients (average age 59 years) presented over a 5-year period. The mean duration of neuropathic ulceration until diagnosis of SCC was 24.5 years. Six patients required limb amputations and 3 underwent lymphadenectomy for involved nodes. One patient died of disseminated disease. The history of the eponym "Marjolin's ulcer' is traced and a case put forward for recognition of malignant change in neuropathic ulcers as yet another example of Marjolin's ulcer. A plea is made for an increased awareness of the possibility of malignant transformation in chronic neuropathic ulcers in order to effect an early diagnosis of a potentially aggressive cancer. This is the first report of its kind in South Africa. Similar cases, however, have been reported from other parts of the world where leprosy is endemic.
BT - South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8966648?dopt=Abstract DA - 1996 Aug IS - 8 J2 - S. Afr. Med. J. LA - dut N2 -Seven cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) arising in chronic neuropathic plantar ulcers of leprosy are described. These patients (average age 59 years) presented over a 5-year period. The mean duration of neuropathic ulceration until diagnosis of SCC was 24.5 years. Six patients required limb amputations and 3 underwent lymphadenectomy for involved nodes. One patient died of disseminated disease. The history of the eponym "Marjolin's ulcer' is traced and a case put forward for recognition of malignant change in neuropathic ulcers as yet another example of Marjolin's ulcer. A plea is made for an increased awareness of the possibility of malignant transformation in chronic neuropathic ulcers in order to effect an early diagnosis of a potentially aggressive cancer. This is the first report of its kind in South Africa. Similar cases, however, have been reported from other parts of the world where leprosy is endemic.
PY - 1996 SP - 966 EP - 9 T2 - South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde TI - [Squamous cell carcinoma in neuropathic plantar ulcers in leprosy: another example of Marjolin's ulcer]. VL - 86 SN - 0256-9574 ER -