Related Topics
Sponsor Links
Description of ulcer
Ulcers are non-healing wounds that develop on the skin, mucous membranes or eye. Although they have many causes, they are marked by:
Skin ulcers
The skin is the largest organ of the human body. Classification systems are used to communicate the severity and depth of an ulcer. It is an easy way to communicate changes for the better, or worse.
Here is one classification system provided by Merck Manual:
- Stage 1: The skin is red. The underlying tissue is soft. The redness disappears with minor pressure.
- Stage 2: There is redness, swelling and hardening of the skin around the area. Sometimes there is blistering. Sometimes there is loss of the superficial skin.
- Stage 3: The skin becomes necrotic. There may be exposure of the fat beneath the skin. The skin may be lost through all its layers.
- Stage 4: There is more loss of fat and more necrosis of the skin through to the muscle beneath.
- Stage 5: Continuing loss of fat and necrosis of muscle below.
- Stage 6: Bone destruction begins with irritation of the bone, erosion of the bone cortex progressing to osteomyelitis. There may be sepsis of a joint, pathologic fracture or generalized body infection, septicemia.
Other locations of ulcers in body
- Inferior members: most ulcers of the foot and leg are caused by underlying vascular insufficiency. The skin breaks down or fails to heal because of repeated insult or trauma. Pressure of the nail can cause subungual ulceration. These are most frequently seen in diabetics who have a very low potential to heal from injury.
- Sacrum and ischium
- Mouth ulcer
- Intestinal ulcers: This includes ulcers of the esophagus, stomach, large and small intestine
- Genitalia: May be penile, vulvar or labial. Most often are due to sexually-transmitted diseases
- Eyes: corneal ulcers are the most common type. Conjunctival ulcers also occur.
Pathology of ulceration
The most common causes are:
Some specific types of ulcers are:
