Leg ulceration and the cholesterol embolus.
An important and frequently overlooked cause of leg ulcers are cholesterol emboli. A 79-year-old woman with a non-healing leg ulcer is described. The diagnosis of cholesterol embolism was made with the aid of a deep biopsy of the ulcer and serial sectioning of the specimen. This report serves to illustrate the importance of considering cholesterol embolism when evaluating a chronic leg ulcer, and the diagnostic value of proper biopsy techniques.
Becker
K A
KA
Department of Dermatology, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark 07103-2714, USA.
Schwartz
R A
RA
Rothenberg
J
J
D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D017700:Embolism, Cholesterol / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology