Marjolin's ulcer: Sequelae of mismanaged chronic cutaneous ulcers.

OBJECTIVE

This study was to evaluate the current pattern and risk factors of Marjolin's ulcer in the authors' setting.

SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-one patients with histological diagnosis of skin malignancy at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria.

METHODS

Presented are patients with histologic diagnosis of Marjolin's seen in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria from January 2007 through December 2007.

RESULTS

Five patients (3 men and 2 women) with Marjolin's ulcer whose ages ranged from 32 to 70 years (mean 46.6 years) accounted for 45.5% of squamous cell carcinoma. All the patients suffered traumatic injuries (4 lower limb injuries from road traffic accidents and 1 puncture wound of the upper limb) and the latency was 21.4 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic trauma-induced limb ulceration is the leading risk factor for Marjolin's ulcer. Health education, early detection, and proper management of chronic wounds would improve outcome.