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Starace M, Carpanese MA, Pampaloni F, Dika E, Pileri A, Rubino D, Alessandrini A, Zamagni C, Baraldi C, Misciali C, Patrizi A, Bianchi T, Apalla Z, Piraccini BM. Management of malignant cutaneous wounds in oncologic patients. Support Care Cancer 2022; 30:7615-7623. [PMID: 35672478 PMCID: PMC9385755 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-022-07194-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Neoplastic wounds may develop as a result of primary tumor growth in the skin, due to metastasis, or due to skin invasion by tumors emerging from deeper levels. Malignant wounds may present as a crater-like ulcer, or as raised nodules with a cauliflower-like appearance. They are associated with malodor, necrosis, pain, bleeding, and secondary infection. The aim of our study is to better characterize fungating wounds and their management. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the database of the Wound Care Unit of the University of Bologna in order to identify individuals affected by neoplastic wound, between January 2019 and February 2021. RESULTS We identified 9 females and 2 males with a mean age of 63 years; all were referred by the Oncology Unit. Management differed depending on the characteristics of the patients and the ulcers. Complete healing of the wound, following the parallel complete remission of the lymphoproliferative neoplasia, was observed in one individual. Among the others, one died because of breast cancer, while cutaneous lesions in 2 individuals deteriorated after 1 year of follow-up. Remission/relapse of the ulcer following the treatment course administered for the lymphoma were observed in one patient. CONCLUSIONS Treatment of malignant fungating wounds is challenging. Considering the neoplastic nature of the wounds, complete healing or improvement cannot be expected with the application of classically prescribed dressing for wounds. A mostly palliative treatment, focusing on maintaining the patient's quality of life, is a reasonable choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Starace
- Dermatology - IRCCS Policlinico Di Sant'Orsola - Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Miriam Anna Carpanese
- Dermatology - IRCCS Policlinico Di Sant'Orsola - Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Pampaloni
- Dermatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Gallucci 4, 35121, Padua, Italy.
| | - Emi Dika
- Dermatology - IRCCS Policlinico Di Sant'Orsola - Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessandro Pileri
- Dermatology - IRCCS Policlinico Di Sant'Orsola - Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Daniela Rubino
- Addarii Medical Oncology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, Bologna, Italy
| | - Aurora Alessandrini
- Dermatology - IRCCS Policlinico Di Sant'Orsola - Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudio Zamagni
- Addarii Medical Oncology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, Bologna, Italy
| | - Carlotta Baraldi
- Dermatology - IRCCS Policlinico Di Sant'Orsola - Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Cosimo Misciali
- Dermatology - IRCCS Policlinico Di Sant'Orsola - Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Annalisa Patrizi
- Dermatology - IRCCS Policlinico Di Sant'Orsola - Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Tommaso Bianchi
- Dermatology - IRCCS Policlinico Di Sant'Orsola - Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Zoe Apalla
- Second Dermatology Department, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Bianca Maria Piraccini
- Dermatology - IRCCS Policlinico Di Sant'Orsola - Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Padden S, Abraham E, Viscosi E, Habin K, Lundquist D. Cutaneous Metastases: A Case Study on Clinical Care for Patients. Clin J Oncol Nurs 2020; 24:320-323. [DOI: 10.1188/20.cjon.320-323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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