Stefanie Reich-Schupke1,2, Martin Doerler1, Uwe Wollina3, Joachim Dissemond4, Thomas Horn5, Anke Strölin6, Cornelia Erfurt-Berge7, Markus Stücker1. 1. Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Vein centre - Dermatology & Vascular Surgery, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany. 2. Artemed - Vein competence centre, Dermatology & Vascular Surgery, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany. 3. Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Academic Teaching -Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, -Dresden, Germany. 4. Clinic for Dermatology, -Venereology and Allergology, -University Essen, Germany. 5. Clinic for Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Krefeld, Germany. 6. Clinic for Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Tübingen, Germany. 7. Clinic for Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Erlangen, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Secondary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a rare complication of chronic venous leg ulcers. So far, little is known about its pathophysiology and clinical behavior. Initiated by the working group "Wound Healing" (AGW) of the German Society of Dermatology (DDG), it is the objective of the current Marjolin registry to collect cases of SCC arising in venous ulcers, in order to evaluate diagnostic characteristics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All members of the AGW received questionnaires inquiring about basic patient data, ulcer characteristics, and therapy conducted. RESULTS: From 2010 to 2013, 30 patients (20 women, 10 men) from six tertiary wound care centers were registered. Mean age was 76.17 years. The average duration of venous leg ulcers prior to SCC diagnosis was 15.93 years. Suspicious wound characteristics primarily included: pain (n = 3), therapy resistance (n = 27), and fetor (n = 12) as well as clinical appearance (n = 10) with atypical morphology, nodular wound bed, and hypergranulation. CONCLUSIONS: Atypical morphology or changes in appearance as well as therapy resistance despite optimal care (6-12 weeks) should prompt physicians to take spindle-shaped, if necessary multiple and serial, biopsies. Primary risk factors for malignant transformation include patient age and ulcer duration.
BACKGROUND: Secondary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a rare complication of chronic venous leg ulcers. So far, little is known about its pathophysiology and clinical behavior. Initiated by the working group "Wound Healing" (AGW) of the German Society of Dermatology (DDG), it is the objective of the current Marjolin registry to collect cases of SCC arising in venous ulcers, in order to evaluate diagnostic characteristics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All members of the AGW received questionnaires inquiring about basic patient data, ulcer characteristics, and therapy conducted. RESULTS: From 2010 to 2013, 30 patients (20 women, 10 men) from six tertiary wound care centers were registered. Mean age was 76.17 years. The average duration of venous leg ulcers prior to SCC diagnosis was 15.93 years. Suspicious wound characteristics primarily included: pain (n = 3), therapy resistance (n = 27), and fetor (n = 12) as well as clinical appearance (n = 10) with atypical morphology, nodular wound bed, and hypergranulation. CONCLUSIONS: Atypical morphology or changes in appearance as well as therapy resistance despite optimal care (6-12 weeks) should prompt physicians to take spindle-shaped, if necessary multiple and serial, biopsies. Primary risk factors for malignant transformation include patient age and ulcer duration.
Authors: Jeffrey F Scott; Kevin R Brough; Konstantin V Grigoryan; John G Muzic; Grace Y Kim; Rosalynn R Z Conic; Sheena T Hill; Jerry D Brewer; Christian L Baum; Mark R Litzow; William J Hogan; Mrinal S Patnaik; Shahrukh K Hashmi; Hillard M Lazarus; Jeremy S Bordeaux; Cheryl L Thompson; Meg R Gerstenblith; Julia S Lehman Journal: JAMA Dermatol Date: 2020-06-01 Impact factor: 10.282
Authors: Wiebke Sondermann; Lisa Zimmer; Dirk Schadendorf; Alexander Roesch; Joachim Klode; Joachim Dissemond Journal: Medicine (Baltimore) Date: 2016-07 Impact factor: 1.889