title: Leg ulcers: uncommon presentations.
abstract: Uncommon presentations like vasculitis or other immunologic causes and malignancy account for about 1% to 2% of patients suffering from leg ulcers. We focus on such uncommon leg ulcers including: cutaneous vasculitis causing cutaneous ulceration, other immunologic or metabolic cutaneous lesions such as pyoderma gangrenosum and necrobiosis lipoidica, and ulcers based on neoplastic etiology. A short description on leg ulcers in the tropics is also included. The described uncommon presentations of leg ulcers are typically difficult to diagnose and treat; it is a specialist's job to take care of patients with these types of ulcers. Multidisciplinary specialized wound healing concepts integrated in the national health care system, as an accepted expert function, is the ideal way to organize the wound healing area. Such a system would result in an earlier diagnosis and more sufficient treatment for patients with uncommon presentations of leg ulcers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Center of Wound Healing, Odense University Hospital, Denmark. finn.gottrup@ouh.fyns.amt.dk
authors.forename: Finn
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gottrup
authors.forename: Tonny
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karlsmark
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015994:Incidence; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D017511:Pyoderma Gangrenosum / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology