Slow growth, painlessness (as the ulcer is usually not associated with nerve tissue), and absence of lymphatic spread due to local destruction of lymphatic channels.[8]
Histology
Histologically, the tumour is a well-differentiatedsquamous cell carcinoma. This carcinoma is aggressive in nature, spreads locally and is associated with a poor prognosis.[7] The cancer has a 18-38% rate of metastasis.[9]
40% occur on the lower limb and the malignant change is usually painless. This malignant change of the wound happens a long time after initial trauma, usually 10–25 years later. Its edge is everted and not always raised. More recent transcriptional analysis suggests that chronically impeded extracellular matrix turnover and epithelium-to-mesenchyme transitions in neglected scar tissue might give rise to this malignancy.[10]
Diagnosis
Wedge biopsy is the favored method of diagnosis. Tissue specimens obtained should be taken from both the centre and margin of lesion, as the central ulcerated deposits may be necrotic.
Treatment
Treatment is usually surgical, with a wide excision of the lesion; typically a 1 cm margin all around is required.
^Smidt LS, Smidt LF, Chedid MB, Bavaresco CS, Chedid MF (October 2005). "Radical surgical treatment for Marjolin ulcer occurring after chronic osteomyelitis". South. Med. J. 98 (10): 1053. doi:10.1097/01.smj.0000182509.78816.7b. PMID16295826.
^ abChong AJ, Klein MB (March 2005). "Images in clinical medicine. Marjolin's ulcer". N. Engl. J. Med. 352 (10): e9. doi:10.1056/NEJMicm040020. PMID15758002.
^Paredes F (February 1998). "[Marjölin ulcer]". Acta Med Port (in Portuguese). 11 (2): 185–7. PMID9567417.
^Motley, T., White, K. and Clyde, J. (2014). Squamous cell carcinoma of the foot: A case report. The Foot and Ankle Online Journal, 7(2): 2. [1]
^Sinha S, Su S, Workentine M, Agabalyan N, Cheng M, Gabriel V, Biernaskie J (January 2017). "Transcriptional Analysis Reveals Evidence of Chronically Impeded ECM Turnover and Epithelium-to-Mesenchyme Transition in Scar Tissue Giving Rise to Marjolin's Ulcer". J Burn Care Res. 38 (1): e14–e22. doi:10.1097/BCR.0000000000000432. PMID27679957. S2CID3702018.