Division of Plastic Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Science, No,1 Shuaifuyuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100730, China.
World J Surg Oncol. 2013 Dec 17;11:313. doi: 10.1186/1477-7819-11-313.
Marjolin's ulcer (MU) is a rare malignancy arising from various forms of scars. This potentially fatal complication typically occurs after a certain latency period. This article attempts to reveal the importance of the latency period in the prevention and early treatment of the malignancy.
A retrospective review of 17 MU patients who underwent surgical procedures between June of 2005 and December 2011 was conducted. Etiology of injuries, latency period, repeated ulceration, and outcomes were recorded. This observational report reveals characteristics of patients who develop MU.
An incidence of 0.7% of MU was found amongst patients complaining of existing scars in our study; burns and trauma were the most common etiology of MU. The mean latency period was 29 years (SD = 19) and the mean post-ulceration period was 7 years (SD = 9). Statistical analysis revealed a negative correlation between the age of patients at injury and the length of latency period (r = -0.8, P <0.01), as well as the lengths of pre-ulceration and post-ulceration periods (r = -0.7, P <0.01).
Patients experience different lengths of pre- and post-ulceration periods during the latency period. Younger patients tend to have a longer latency period. Skin breakdown on chronic scars and chronic unhealed ulcers are two main sources of MU. MU may be preventable with a close surveillance of the ulcer during the latency period.
马尔金溃疡（MU）是一种罕见的恶性肿瘤，源于各种形式的瘢痕。这种潜在致命的并发症通常在一定潜伏期后发生。本文试图揭示潜伏期在预防和早期治疗恶性肿瘤中的重要性。
对 2005 年 6 月至 2011 年 12 月期间接受手术治疗的 17 例 MU 患者进行回顾性分析。记录损伤的病因、潜伏期、溃疡复发和结果。本观察报告揭示了发生 MU 的患者的特征。
在我们的研究中，患有现有瘢痕的患者中 MU 的发病率为 0.7%；烧伤和创伤是 MU 最常见的病因。平均潜伏期为 29 年（SD=19），平均溃疡后时间为 7 年（SD=9）。统计分析显示，患者受伤时的年龄与潜伏期的长短呈负相关（r=-0.8，P<0.01），与溃疡前和溃疡后时期的长短也呈负相关（r=-0.7，P<0.01）。
患者在潜伏期经历不同长度的溃疡前和溃疡后时期。年轻患者的潜伏期较长。慢性瘢痕和慢性未愈合溃疡的皮肤破裂是 MU 的两个主要来源。通过密切监测潜伏期内的溃疡，MU 可能是可预防的。
