Basal cell carcinoma is not granulation tissue in the venous leg ulcer

• Published in: International journal of lower extremity wounds Vol. 7; no. 3; p. 182
• Main Authors: Jankovic, Aleksandar, Binic, Ivana, Ljubenovic, Milanka
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.2008
• Subjects: Aged; Biopsy; Carcinoma, Basal Cell - complications; Carcinoma, Basal Cell - diagnosis; Carcinoma, Basal Cell - pathology; Carcinoma, Basal Cell - physiopathology; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Granulation Tissue - pathology; Humans; Skin Neoplasms - complications; Skin Neoplasms - diagnosis; Skin Neoplasms - pathology; Skin Neoplasms - physiopathology; Varicose Ulcer - etiology; Varicose Ulcer - pathology; Varicose Ulcer - physiopathology
• ISSN: 1534-7346
• DOI: 10.1177/1534734608320715

The authors present a case of a 76-year-old female with a 7-year history of a nonhealing leg ulcer. The wound surface had epithelial tissue present in a diffuse way with shiny granulations on parts of the edge of the ulcer. A biopsy of the ulcer edge was performed to study the reasons for the absence of response to treatment and the presence of abnormal granulation tissue. The result showed the presence of a basal cell carcinoma. The authors conclude that skin biopsy is very important in nonhealing chronic venous ulcers because carcinomas may mimic granulation tissue and complicate venous ulcers.