title: Pustular pyoderma gangrenosum: an uncommon variant which is easily misdiagnosed.
abstract: Pustular pyoderma gangrenosum is a relatively uncommon clinical form of pyoderma gangrenosum; it presents with vesiculo-pustular lesions that do not develop into frank ulceration. We report a case of a 44-year-old man with associated ulcerative colitis, who was misdiagnosed as having necrotizing fasciitis. He underwent multiple debridements and a subsequent skin grafting procedure, but without improvement. The diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum is often challenging because there is no defining diagnostic clinical, laboratory, or histopathological feature. A high index of suspicion is, therefore, essential to diagnose pyoderma gangrenosum clinically because failure to do so in the early stages of the disease can lead to disfigurement and even unnecessary and detrimental surgery.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Changi General Hospital, Singapore, Division of Pathology, Changi General Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Chia
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Teo
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Tay
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Poh
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis; D000328:Adult; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000150:complications*; D003646:Debridement; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D019115:Fasciitis, Necrotizing / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D017511:Pyoderma Gangrenosum / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures