Marjolin ulcer in hidradenitis suppurativa: case reports.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory disease of apocrine gland-bearing skin areas. Long-standing low-grade infection and chronic abscess formation result in ulcers, fistulas, and progressive scars. A rare complication is the development of squamous cell carcinoma, known as Marjolin ulcer. We report 3 cases in which squamous cell carcinoma developed despite medical treatments and local excisions. Because of the poor prognosis associated with squamous cell carcinoma, we advocate wide excision of hidradenitis suppurativa lesions when other treatments have failed.