CASE REPORT
Marjolin's ulcer: A non-frequent manifestation of a carcinomatous transformation in a chronic wound – Description of three cases and literature review
 
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1
Department of Plastic Surgery, Medical Centre, Polanica-Zdrój, Poland
 
2
Plastic Surgery Clinic, Wrocław Medical University, Polanica-Zdrój, Poland
 
 
Submission date: 2013-08-30
 
 
Acceptance date: 2013-10-09
 
 
Online publication date: 2013-10-14
 
 
Publication date: 2020-04-08
 
 
Corresponding author
Piotr H. Drozdowski   

Department of Plastic Surgery, Medical Centre, Jana Pawła II 2, 57-320 Polanica-Zdrój, Poland. Tel.: +4874 862 11 57; mobile: +48 692 040 080; fax: +4874 862 11 02.
 
 
Pol. Ann. Med. 2013;20(2):135-140
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Lesion resulting from malignant transformation of a non-healing chronic wound of various etiology is referred to as Marjolin's ulcer. Histopathologically in mostcases it is a squamous cell carcinoma, while basal cell carcinoma, melanoma malignum and sarcoma cases have been reported in the literature.

Aim:
The aim of the work was to outline major characteristics of the entity and to focus on a variety of lesions which may evolve into this malignancy, based on literature review and patients operated on in the authors' department.

Material and methods:
Four cases of malignant lesions which occurred in patients presenting chronic wounds in the period 2008–2012 were described.

Results and discussion:
All patients presented squamous cell carcinomas which evolved in chronic post-burn wounds (two cases) and a chronic atheroma (one case). The time between the initial injury and malignant transformation was long (over 20 years in all cases). One patient died in the course of the disease.

Conclusions:
Marjolin's ulcer is a non-frequent manifestation of a malignant neoplasm. It is an entity, which should be suspected and meticulously diagnosed and treated in all individuals presenting alerting symptoms such as chronic ulcerations of previously injured skin. It is a highly-virulent kind of malignant skin lesion in most cases due to late diagnosis and to histopathological characteristics of the entity. Surgical wide excision is a treatment of choice. In some cases, radiotherapy and limb amputation in some cases of acral localization are advocated. There is no agreement on prophylactic regional lymph node dissection.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.
 
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