title: Marjolin ulcer: clinical experience with 34 patients over 15 years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malignancies that arise from scars are referred to as Marjolin ulcers. The association between chronic ulcers and squamous cell carcinomas is well established. There are many case reports in the literature regarding Marjolin ulcer; however, randomized controlled clinical series that describe a thorough evaluation of these patients are rarely encountered.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We present our clinic's 15 years of experience with 34 Marjolin ulcer patients and their treatment modalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of 302 squamous cell carcinoma patients who were treated in the plastic surgery department between 1997 and 2011 was performed. Thirty-four (10.3%) histopathologically confirmed Marjolin ulcer patients were further analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although burn scars represented 77% of the patients in the present study, unstable scars that formed following traffic accidents and fistula tracts are also among the commonly encountered etiologies. Based on our observations, squamous cell carcinoma, in addition to malignant melanoma and verrucous carcinoma, is frequently observed in cases of Marjolin ulcers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If the goal is to eradicate this clinical entity, all of the chronic ulcers that fail to heal require biopsies at regular intervals. Large excisional margins, lymphadenectomies in cases of palpable lymph nodes, and a well-defined oncology protocol are all essential in treating Marjolin ulcer.
authors.forename: Aysin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karasoy Yesilada
authors.forename: Kamuran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zeynep Sevim
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Özgur Sucu
authors.forename: Arzu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akçal
authors.forename: Semra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karşidağ
authors.forename: Leyla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kilinc
authors.forename: Hazim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Orhan Kizilkaya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult