Biomaterial Database

Pyoderma gangrenosum complicated by necrotizing fasciitis. 1994

G B Jemec, and L Konradsen

Department of Dermatology, University of Copenhagen, Gentofte Hospital, Denmark.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a potentially life-threatening infection that may resemble extensive pyoderma gangrenosum. The treatment of the two diseases is, however, different, and differentiating them is therefore essential. A case is presented in which necrotizing fasciitis appeared as a complication of pyoderma gangrenosum. The successful treatment is described, and the differential diagnosis of the two entities is presented. The need for early and aggressive treatment of necrotizing fasciitis is stressed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007868	Leg Dermatoses	A nonspecific term used to denote any cutaneous lesion or group of lesions, or eruptions of any type on the leg. (From Stedman, 25th ed)	Leg Dermatosis,Dermatoses, Leg,Dermatosis, Leg
D009336	Necrosis	The death of cells in an organ or tissue due to disease, injury or failure of the blood supply.
D005208	Fasciitis	Inflammation of the fascia. There are three major types: 1, Eosinophilic fasciitis, an inflammatory reaction with eosinophilia, producing hard thickened skin with an orange-peel configuration suggestive of scleroderma and considered by some a variant of scleroderma; 2, Necrotizing fasciitis (FASCIITIS, NECROTIZING), a serious fulminating infection (usually by a beta hemolytic streptococcus) causing extensive necrosis of superficial fascia; 3, Nodular/Pseudosarcomatous /Proliferative fasciitis, characterized by a rapid growth of fibroblasts with mononuclear inflammatory cells and proliferating capillaries in soft tissue, often the forearm; it is not malignant but is sometimes mistaken for fibrosarcoma.	Fascitis,Fasciitides,Fascitides
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368	Aged	A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available.	Elderly
D017511	Pyoderma Gangrenosum	An idiopathic, rapidly evolving, and severely debilitating disease occurring most commonly in association with chronic ulcerative colitis. It is characterized by the presence of boggy, purplish ulcers with undermined borders, appearing mostly on the legs. The majority of cases are in people between 40 and 60 years old. Its etiology is unknown.