Hoffman MD
Dermatologic therapy. Date of publication 2013 May 1;volume 26(3):222-35.
1. Dermatol Ther. 2013 May-Jun;26(3):222-35. doi: 10.1111/dth.12048.
Atypical ulcers.
Hoffman MD(1).
Author information:
(1)Department of Dermatology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
60612, USA. Mark_D_Hoffman@rush.edu
Atypical ulcers of the skin challenge the dermatologist with respect to
recognition, diagnosis, management, and treatment. The entire gamut of pathogenic
categories including vascular, inflammatory, neoplastic, genetic,
medication-related, and infectious processes may give rise to atypical ulcers. By
definition, these ulcers are unusual, and accurate diagnosis may ultimately
require the clinician to violate the dictum that "common things are common."
Atypical ulcers may present with features that the clinician has not previously
encountered, or may present with seemingly typical features that actually mislead
due to phenotypic mimicry. Because skin ulcers are inherently tissue-destructive,
and may reflect an underlying systemic disease process, there is heightened
urgency to achieving an accurate diagnosis and initiating appropriate therapy.
© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
DOI: 10.1111/dth.12048
PMID: 23742283 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
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