Abstract
Background: Nonmelanoma skin cancers rarely arise from venous leg ulcers (VLUs). Although basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common nonmelanoma skin cancer, its association with lower-extremity ulcers is not as frequently reported as other malignancies. Objective: To report a case series of biopsy-proven BCC from lower-extremity ulcers of patients who presented at a multispecialty wound clinic. Methods: Four male patients (mean age, 82.75 years) with 4 chronic VLUs (duration ranging from 2 months to 10 years) underwent a biopsy of their ulcerative lesions. Results: Histologic examination of the specimens revealed 4 cases of BCC. All of the lesions were surgically excised, followed by split-thickness skin graft (n = 2) or healing by secondary intention (n = 2). All of the patients remained healed at follow-up ranging from 15 to 27 months, except for 1 patient who opted for conservative management and had not completely healed at 14 months' follow-up. Conclusions: Biopsies are warranted for any VLU with documented stalled healing following 3 months of standard of care. One biopsy is performed at the periphery of the ulcer and another at the base in order to rule out the presence of malignant transformation because of BCC, squamous cell carcinoma, sarcoma, melanoma, lymphoma, or metastases.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 130-134 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Advances in Skin and Wound Care |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 1 2018 |
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Keywords
- basal cell carcinoma
- biopsy
- lower-extremity wound
- nonmelanoma skin cancers
- venous leg ulcer
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Dermatology
- Advanced and Specialized Nursing
Cite this
Ulcerated Basal Cell Carcinomas Masquerading as Venous Leg Ulcers. / Tchanque-Fossuo, Catherine N.; Millsop, Jillian W.; Johnson, Mary Ann; Dahle, Sara E.; Isseroff, Roslyn Rivkah.
In: Advances in Skin and Wound Care, Vol. 31, No. 3, 01.03.2018, p. 130-134.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Ulcerated Basal Cell Carcinomas Masquerading as Venous Leg Ulcers
AU - Tchanque-Fossuo, Catherine N.
AU - Millsop, Jillian W.
AU - Johnson, Mary Ann
AU - Dahle, Sara E.
AU - Isseroff, Roslyn Rivkah
PY - 2018/3/1
Y1 - 2018/3/1
N2 - Background: Nonmelanoma skin cancers rarely arise from venous leg ulcers (VLUs). Although basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common nonmelanoma skin cancer, its association with lower-extremity ulcers is not as frequently reported as other malignancies. Objective: To report a case series of biopsy-proven BCC from lower-extremity ulcers of patients who presented at a multispecialty wound clinic. Methods: Four male patients (mean age, 82.75 years) with 4 chronic VLUs (duration ranging from 2 months to 10 years) underwent a biopsy of their ulcerative lesions. Results: Histologic examination of the specimens revealed 4 cases of BCC. All of the lesions were surgically excised, followed by split-thickness skin graft (n = 2) or healing by secondary intention (n = 2). All of the patients remained healed at follow-up ranging from 15 to 27 months, except for 1 patient who opted for conservative management and had not completely healed at 14 months' follow-up. Conclusions: Biopsies are warranted for any VLU with documented stalled healing following 3 months of standard of care. One biopsy is performed at the periphery of the ulcer and another at the base in order to rule out the presence of malignant transformation because of BCC, squamous cell carcinoma, sarcoma, melanoma, lymphoma, or metastases.
AB - Background: Nonmelanoma skin cancers rarely arise from venous leg ulcers (VLUs). Although basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common nonmelanoma skin cancer, its association with lower-extremity ulcers is not as frequently reported as other malignancies. Objective: To report a case series of biopsy-proven BCC from lower-extremity ulcers of patients who presented at a multispecialty wound clinic. Methods: Four male patients (mean age, 82.75 years) with 4 chronic VLUs (duration ranging from 2 months to 10 years) underwent a biopsy of their ulcerative lesions. Results: Histologic examination of the specimens revealed 4 cases of BCC. All of the lesions were surgically excised, followed by split-thickness skin graft (n = 2) or healing by secondary intention (n = 2). All of the patients remained healed at follow-up ranging from 15 to 27 months, except for 1 patient who opted for conservative management and had not completely healed at 14 months' follow-up. Conclusions: Biopsies are warranted for any VLU with documented stalled healing following 3 months of standard of care. One biopsy is performed at the periphery of the ulcer and another at the base in order to rule out the presence of malignant transformation because of BCC, squamous cell carcinoma, sarcoma, melanoma, lymphoma, or metastases.
KW - basal cell carcinoma
KW - biopsy
KW - lower-extremity wound
KW - nonmelanoma skin cancers
KW - venous leg ulcer
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85042376596&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85042376596&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/01.ASW.0000530068.44631.dc
DO - 10.1097/01.ASW.0000530068.44631.dc
M3 - Article
C2 - 29438147
AN - SCOPUS:85042376596
VL - 31
SP - 130
EP - 134
JO - Advances in Skin and Wound Care
JF - Advances in Skin and Wound Care
SN - 1527-7941
IS - 3
ER -