title: [Ulceration of the scalp: a unique manifestation of pyoderma gangrenosum].
abstract: Pyoderma gangrenosum is a chronic, noninfectious, ulcerating cutaneous disease of unknown etiology usually presenting with multiple lesions on the legs and trunk. Solitary lesions in other locations are rare and therefore hard to diagnose. A 78-year-old and a 81-year-old woman with extensive scalp necrosis were both diagnosed as pyoderma gangrenosum after exclusion of other differential diagnostic possibilities. The separate diagnosis of malignant pyoderma for this disease state no longer seems justified. Scalp necrosis is infrequently seen in dermatological patients; most previous reports describe it in giant cell arteritis. Other differential diagnoses include viral, bacterial and mycotic infections as well as erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp. In conclusion, we again draw attention to unilesional pyoderma gangrenosum of the scalp as a rare disease entity. Immunosuppressive drugs are an effective treatment modality.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Universitätsklinikum Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Mannheim. nina.poenitz@haut.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Poenitz
authors.forename: Dorothea
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tadler
authors.forename: Claus-Detlev
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Klemke
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Glorer
authors.forename: Sergij
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goerdt
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017511:Pyoderma Gangrenosum / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D012535:Scalp / Q000473:pathology*; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents