A Case of Pyoderma Gangrenosum Misdiagnosed as Necrotizing Infection: A Potential Diagnostic Catastrophe

From Unassuming to Unbelievable: A Case Report of Pyoderma Gangrenosum

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an autoinflammatory skin disease, and there is no definitive test or established criterion for its diagnosis yet. This report discusses a case of a 34-year-old male patient who presented with an unassuming lesion that quickly worsened with physical manipulation. He was eventually diagnosed with PG. This report highlights the importance of a quick and accurate diagnosis of PG to prevent the worsening of a PG wound and its associated morbidity. It provides a detailed description of the condition accompanied by images to further spread awareness of this rare diagnosis.

Pyoderma Gangrenosum: A Review of Updates in Diagnosis, Pathophysiology and Management

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare entity that is characterized by infiltration of neutrophils into the dermis, causing the formation of rapidly enlarging, painful and necrotic skin ulcers. The pathophysiology of PG is still poorly understood. However, genetic, autoimmune and autoinflammatory mechanisms have been proposed that could potentially explain the etiology of this ulcerating skin disorder. Early diagnosis and treatment are key, as the disease course is rapidly progressive and can leave disfiguring, cribriform scars. However, the diagnosis of PG proves difficult, firstly because there are multiple variants of the disease and secondly because it is a clinical diagnosis and can appear similar to that of other diseases such as vasculitis, skin/soft tissue infections and malignancy. Additionally, there are no official diagnostic criteria to aid in the recognition of PG, which often leads to significant delays in diagnosis. The treatment of PG consists in immunosuppression. However, due to a lack of standardized guidelines, therapeutic regimens are usually dependent upon the individual clinician’s experience and are based on little evidence. Knowledge of the clinical features and pathophysiology of PG can aid in early diagnosis and targeted treatment strategies, which in turn results in improved patient outcomes.

Necrotizing Cellulitis and Myositis in a Neutropenic Leukemic Patient

In this article, we review a case of necrotizing cellulitis and myositis in a neutropenic leukemic patient. He underwent a series of investigations to reach the diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum (PG). The lesion improved dramatically after pertinent identification and initiation of appropriate treatment. The management of PG is exceedingly challenging due to a lack of proper clinical criteria for detection and guidelines for treatment. PG must be considered as a differential in patients with enlarging, sterile, necrotic lesions, unresponsive to prolonged broad-spectrum antibiotics. Prompt recognition can prevent deeper infections and the formation of a chronic open wound causing cosmetic disfigurement along with other catastrophic complications.

Atypical Pyoderma gangrenosum: a case of delayed recognition

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an inflammatory skin condition that is often misdiagnosed as a necrotizing infection. This diagnosis must be considered in any patient with underlying systemic disease who presents with large ulcerating lesions that are unresponsive to antibiotics. Early diagnosis and a multidisciplinary approach to treatment are crucial to achieving improvement in quality of life and minimizing cosmetic morbidity. .

Post-Cesarean Section Pyoderma Gangrenosum Presenting with Vasopressor-dependent Shock: Long-term Follow-up after Delayed Primary Closure

A 28-year-old woman with poor wound healing and surgical site pain presented 5 days post-cesarean section (post-CS) with vasopressor-dependent shock and was eventually diagnosed with postoperative pyoderma gangrenosum (PG). A worsening clinical picture consistent with presumed necrotizing infection necessitated surgical debridement. The patient was ultimately taken to the operating room 4 times with transient improvement after the operations when she received perioperative corticosteroids. We were unable to identify an infectious source and cultures revealed no microorganisms. Dermatopathology revealed neutrophilic infiltrate and focal necrosis without microorganisms. The biopsy site began to concurrently exhibit pathergic changes, leading to a diagnosis of PG. Twelve weeks later, she underwent DPC of her abdominal wound while maintained on an immunosuppressive regimen of cyclosporine and prednisone. Incisional negative pressure wound therapy with a small window was used in the immediate postoperative period to allow for direct visualization of the closed incision. She healed without issue and her immunosuppressive regimen was ultimately discontinued. Postoperative PG is an uncommon diagnosis with high risk of morbidity. It is often mistaken for necrotizing infection. We report a unique case of post-CS PG presenting as vasopressor-dependent shock that was successfully closed with incisional negative pressure wound therapy with a small window.

MRI features of pyoderma gangrenosum in a diabetic patient with ulcerative colitis: A case report and review of the literature

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare noninfectious skin condition which clinical picture can overlap with that of the diabetic foot. Meticulous physical examination along with biopsy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can make the distinction easier, saving the patients from undergoing a debilitating intervention.

We report a case of pathologically proven PG in the right ankle region of a 55-year old male with known uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and inflammatory bowel disease.

Radiographs revealed increased soft tissue density overlying the lateral melleolus of the right ankle. MRI showed a well-defined soft tissue mass with heterogeneously intrinsically high signal intensity on T1- and on T2-weighted images, and heterogeneous peripheral enhancement on fat-suppressed, contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images. Histologically, diffuse neutrophilic infiltrate throughout the dermis was present without micro-organisms. This is the first report of MRI findings of PG in the ankle. We also summarize the findings of previously reported cases of PG.