Ulcers of the leg

The catalog of possible causes of ulceration of the leg is unending. It has been the purpose of this article to cover in some detail those ulcers seen most commonly in Western Europe and America. Neoplastic ulcers, tropical ulcers, ulcers due to underlying bone disease, ulcers associated with blood dyscrasias, ulcers due to foreign bodies and self-inflicted injury, and injection ulcers all occur but are rare and are covered in detail elsehwere. In summary, it must be emphasized that an ulcer of the leg needs a correct diagnosis before appropriate treatment can be administered. Diagnosis often is difficult and far from obvious, requiring considerable care and clinical experience.