Marjolin’s ulcer is a rare and aggressive skin cancer that occurs from burns, scars, or poorly healing wounds. It slowly grows but can spread to other body parts over the years. Marjolin’s ulcer treatment involves Moh’s surgery.
Marjolin’s ulcer occurs as a non-healing wound, which grows slowly, bleeds easily on contact, develops foul-smelling pus, and is painful. It’s a rare cancerous growth that spreads to liver, lungs, kidneys with time.
Marjolin’s ulcer occurs from previous wound, and chronically inflamed skin or scar tissue. They are usually associated with burn scars. However, bed sores and chronic venous ulcers (inside of the leg) are other causes of its eruption.
Marjolin’s ulcer is suspected when a non-healing wound or a scar persists for 3 months. Physical examination of local lymph nodes is done, followed by an ultrasound and biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
Other imaging tests (chest radiograph, brain computed tomography) may be done to evaluate the cancerous growth on a case-by-case basis.
Marjolin’s ulcer treatment involves Moh’s surgery to remove the cancerous growth. The surgery is done in multiple stages, starting by removing the top layer of the skin, and observing it under microscope for reduction of the cell growth. This process is repeated until all the cancer cells have disappeared. The surgery is done by making a local excision of 1 to 2 cm margins, and removing the lesions from the site.
According to medical research, Marjolin’s ulcer patient survival rate for 3 years is 65–75% and for 10 years 34%. One-quarter of patients for whom the growth has metastasised, the 3-years survival rate is 35–50%.
Recurrence of the disease after surgery is common, at a rate of 20–30% within 3 years.
We are committed to providing the best medical care to patients with our advanced medical practices, equipment, and team. Together, we help patients to recover from being admitted to the hospital until their recovery and rehabilitation.
Marjolin’s ulcer is usually cancerous that appears on the upper skin layers. Some may grow deep into the skin layers as basal cell tumor.
Early excision and grafting of burn wounds can prevent Marjolin’s ulcer. However, it may reappear after several years.
Marjolin’s ulcer is usually malignant and slowly spreads to different organs of the body.
Marjolin’s ulcers are classified as squamous cell carcinoma, sarcoma, basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, and other rare cell types.
The average size of Marjolin’s ulcer is 8 cm. And about 85.7% patients have tumor size ≥ 5 cm in diameter.
We provide effective surgical and non-surgical treatments for all parts of the body. At Cutis Hospital, our cosmetic and plastic surgery team is committed to giving patients safe and high-quality care.
