title: Frequency of malignant neoplasms in 257 chronic leg ulcers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic leg ulcers are one of the most common medical conditions and are a substantial source of morbidity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence of skin cancer mimicking leg ulcers.
  
  
  METHODS
  This observational study included all patients with a clinical diagnosis of chronic leg ulcers (CLU) admitted to the Wound Care Unit, Division of Dermatology, University of Bologna, between March 2008 and February 2011. Patients' general health was assessed, and skin biopsy and vascular Doppler of the lower limbs were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred fifty-seven patients ages 45 to 98 with CLU were included. Skin biopsies were performed in all patients. Pathologic results showed that 10 patients had ulcerative lesions of neoplastic origin. Surgical excision was performed in all patients with neoplasms. After at least 1 year of follow-up, no recurrences were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings highlight the important role of systematic biopsies in diagnosing ulcerated tumors of the lower legs and indicate a high prevalence of large ulcerated basal cell carcinomas.
authors: Internal Medicine, Aging and Nephrologic Diseases Department, Division of Dermatology, University of Bologna, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Cosimo
authors: C
authors: Misciali
authors: Emi
authors: E
authors: Dika
authors: Pier Alessandro
authors: PA
authors: Fanti
authors: Sabina
authors: S
authors: Vaccari
authors: Carlotta
authors: C
authors: Baraldi
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Sgubbi
authors: Annalisa
authors: A
authors: Patrizi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*