Welcome to the Podiatry Arena forums

You are currently viewing our podiatry forum as a guest which gives you limited access to view all podiatry discussions and access our other features. By joining our free global community of Podiatrists and other interested foot health care professionals you will have access to post podiatry topics (answer and ask questions), communicate privately with other members, upload content, view attachments, receive a weekly email update of new discussions, access other special features. Registered users do not get displayed the advertisements in posted messages. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our global Podiatry community today!

  1. Have you considered the Clinical Biomechanics Boot Camp Online, for taking it to the next level? See here for more.
    Dismiss Notice
Dismiss Notice
Have you considered the Clinical Biomechanics Boot Camp Online, for taking it to the next level? See here for more.
Dismiss Notice
Have you liked us on Facebook to get our updates? Please do. Click here for our Facebook page.
Dismiss Notice
Do you get the weekly newsletter that Podiatry Arena sends out to update everybody? If not, click here to organise this.

What is your Possible Diagnosis? - diabetes skin lesion

Discussion in 'Diabetic Foot & Wound Management' started by Richard Masoetsa, Apr 1, 2009.


  1. Members do not see these Ads. Sign Up.
    A 48-yr old diabetic man, BMI 35, C/O bilat hyperparaesthesiae for about 1/12. There's Hx of poor glucose control-A1C 9.3% and Serum glucose of 10.7mmol/l. Has mild varicosities with no stasis dermatitis. The patient also has dyslipidemia and smokes 20 cig/day for approx 30 years. He's on a combined insulin and oral therapy.

    Blood tests confirmed microcytosis, hypochromia and erythrocytosis. AST and URCA are increased. Deep tendon reflexes were absent and other systems' exams were unremarkable.

    On L/F dorsal aspect, patient presented with brownish, macular lesions with multiple satellites (SEE PICTURES BELOW). The patient says the lesions began +/-3yrs ago as bright red macules. The mother lesion is increasing in size, but there is no Hx of pruritis. Biopsy and dermatologist's opinion have been sought.

    Is there any reason to worry or this is just hemosiderin deposits from varicosities??????? Richard M.:bang: Pic1.JPG

    Pic2.JPG
     
  2. jb

    jb Active Member

    Re: What is your Possible Diagnosis?

    The three years throws me, but... contact dermatitis?
     
  3. blinda

    blinda MVP

    Re: What is your Possible Diagnosis?

    Have you ruled out necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum?

    Its true that it usually manifests on the shins but can appear anywhere. Tx choices can include cortisone (either through applying cream or by injection to the affected area) Or ulltraviolet light has also been shown to be of use in the event of a flare up.

    Unfortunately the disease is typically chronic.

    Cheers,
    Bel
     
  4. Gill R

    Gill R Member

    Re: What is your Possible Diagnosis?

    Could be Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum

    Necrobiosis lipoidica (NL) is an inflammatory skin disorder characterized by irregularly shaped, callous lesions with reddish-brown pigmentation and central atrophy.

    The pathology is collagen degeneration with granulomatous response, associated with thickened blood vessels and fat deposition. Underlying cause is unknown: aetiology has suggested to be an antibody-mediated vasculitis with secondary collagen degeneration or diabetic microangiopathy.

    Regards

    Gill
     
  5. Ian Drakard

    Ian Drakard Active Member

    Re: What is your Possible Diagnosis?

    Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum is a good bet. I've read that despite the name it's not necessarily associated with diabetes, although thinking about it most patients i've seen with have been diabetic. Anybody got thoughts on typical patient demographic?

    Ian
     
  6. Gill R

    Gill R Member

    Re: What is your Possible Diagnosis?

    Ian

    This is taken from www.patient.co.uk

    Epidemiology

    NL is a rare skin condition. Whilst there is a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus in patients with NL (50% NL occurs in diabetics), the reported prevalence of NL in diabetic patients is less than 1%. It most commonly presents in the 30s but can present at any age including infancy. It tends to appear earlier in diabetics than in others: in one study, approximately 2% young diabetics (aged up to 22 years)had a NL lesion compared to none of the control subjects. It is 3 times as common in women as in men. Non-diabetic familial clustering of NL does occur but extremely rarely.

    Smoking is more prevalent in diabetic patients with NL than without, as are diabetic complications (retinopathy and nephropathy) although the presence of NL does not correlate with diabetic control.


    Gill
     
  7. Re: What is your Possible Diagnosis?

    Thank you colleagues for quick responses, much appreciated. Am also awaiting biopsy results.
    Richard M.
     
  8. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

    Articles:
    1
    Update on necrobiosis lipoidica: A review of etiology, diagnosis, and treatment options
    Sophia D. Reid, Barry Ladizinski, Kachiu Lee, Akerke Baibergenova, Afsaneh Alavi
    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology; Article in Press
     
  9. Rob Kidd

    Rob Kidd Well-Known Member

    My boss is currently offline in the out back; I will endeavour to get this to her when she is back, Rob. PS, Richard, good to hear from you
     
  10. blinda

    blinda MVP

    Re: What is your Possible Diagnosis?

    Richard,

    I know this was over four years ago, but can you remember the biopsy results?

    Bel
     
  11. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

    Articles:
    1
    Effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma in healing necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum ulcers
    A. Motolese, F. Vignati, A. Antelmi and V. Saturni
    Clinical and Experimental Dermatology; Early View
     
Loading...

Share This Page