The Histopathology of Leg Ulcers
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Venous Leg Ulcers
2.1. Mixed Venous-Arterial Leg Ulcers
2.2. Livedoid Vasculopathy
3. Arterial Leg Ulcers
3.1. Occlusive-Ischemic
3.2. Ischemic Subcutaneous Arteriolosclerosis
3.3. Arteriolosclerotic Ulcer of Martorell
3.4. Calciphylaxis
3.5. Diabetic Leg Ulcers
4. Neuropathic Leg Ulcer
5. Inflammatory Leg Ulcers
5.1. Vasculitis
5.2. Pyoderma Gangrenosum
5.3. Necrobiosis Lipoidica
6. Decubitus
7. Hydroxyurea-Induced Ulcers
8. Ulcerating Skin Tumors
9. Other Causes
10. Discussion
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Venous Leg Ulcer | |
---|---|
Location | Malleoli, pretibial |
Specifics | Late chronic venous disease |
Epidermis | Spongiosis |
Hyperkeratosis | |
Acanthosis | |
Dermis | Inflammatory cell infiltration |
Diffuse edema | |
Hemosiderophages | |
Dermal sclerosis | |
Fibrosis | |
Collagen bundle degeneration | |
Hypodermis | Lipodermatosclerosis |
Vessels | Fibrin cuffs |
Reduced capillary density | |
Dilated capillaries | |
Erythrocyte extravasation | |
Ectatic lymph vessels |
Livedoid Vasculopathy | |
---|---|
Location | Bilateral |
Specifics | White scars |
Epidermis | Spongiosis |
Atrophy | |
Dermis | Secondary inflammatory changes |
Subpapillary plexus thrombosis | |
Vessels | Endothelial edema |
Wall thickening | |
Fibrin thrombi | |
Subintimal hyalinization |
Arterial-Ischemic Leg Ulcer | |
---|---|
Location | Toes, plantar |
Specifics | Demarcated lesions |
Epidermis | Necrosis |
Epidermal thinning | |
Dermis | Sclerosis |
Necrosis | |
Vessels | Thrombosis |
Arteriolosclerotic Ulcer of Martorell | |
---|---|
Location | Lateral, lower leg |
Specifics | Disproportional pain |
Epidermis | Necrosis |
Acanthosis | |
Dermis | Necrosis |
Vessels | Media hypertrophy |
Stenosis | |
Calcification | |
Sub-endothelial hyalinosis | |
Thrombosis | |
Subintimal hyalinization |
Calciphylaxis | |
---|---|
Location | Lower leg |
Specifics | Disproportional pain |
Epidermis | Necrosis |
Dermis | Necrosis |
Calcium deposits | |
Hypodermis | Diffuse calcification |
Vessels | Fibrosis |
Intima hyperplasia | |
Media calcification | |
Thrombosis |
Neuropathic Leg Ulcer | |
---|---|
Location | Plantar |
Specifics | Diabetes-associated |
Epidermis | Hyperkeratosis |
Epidermal thinning | |
Dermis | Leukocyte infiltration |
Degraded extracellular matrix | |
Cellular debris | |
Fibrosis | |
Necrosis | |
Vessels | Wall thickening |
Pyoderma Gangrenosum | |
---|---|
Location | Lower leg |
Specifics | Deep necrotic ulcers |
Epidermis | Necrosis |
Dermis | Neutrophil infiltration |
Vessels | PVLI |
Endothelial swelling | |
Secondary vasculitis |
Necrobiosis Lipoidica | |
---|---|
Location | Anterior, lower leg |
Specifics | “Layered” histology |
Epidermis | Necrosis |
Dermis | Degenerated collagen |
Histiocytes | |
Multinucleated giant cells | |
Leukocyte infiltration |
Decubitus | |
---|---|
Location | Heel, malleoli |
Specifics | Histology type-dependent |
Epidermis | - |
Dermis | Fibrosis |
Leukocyte infiltration | |
Atypical fibroblasts | |
Edema | |
Vessels | PVLI |
Occlusion |
Hydroxyurea-Induced Ulcers | |
---|---|
Location | Malleoli |
Specifics | After hydroxyurea administration |
Epidermis | Spongiosis |
Atrophy | |
Hyperplasia | |
Dermis | Fibrosis |
Vessels | Endothelial edema |
Wall thickening | |
Thrombosis | |
PVLI | |
Secondary vasculitis |
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Hofmann, A.G.; Deinsberger, J.; Oszwald, A.; Weber, B. The Histopathology of Leg Ulcers. Dermatopathology 2024, 11, 62-78. https://doi.org/10.3390/dermatopathology11010007
Hofmann AG, Deinsberger J, Oszwald A, Weber B. The Histopathology of Leg Ulcers. Dermatopathology. 2024; 11(1):62-78. https://doi.org/10.3390/dermatopathology11010007
Chicago/Turabian StyleHofmann, Amun Georg, Julia Deinsberger, André Oszwald, and Benedikt Weber. 2024. "The Histopathology of Leg Ulcers" Dermatopathology 11, no. 1: 62-78. https://doi.org/10.3390/dermatopathology11010007
APA StyleHofmann, A. G., Deinsberger, J., Oszwald, A., & Weber, B. (2024). The Histopathology of Leg Ulcers. Dermatopathology, 11(1), 62-78. https://doi.org/10.3390/dermatopathology11010007