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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffThe sudden appearance of unexplainable ulcers on your skin is the first indication that you may have pyoderma gangrenosum. Tests may include:
- A physical exam.
- Blood tests and other tests to determine whether you have an underlying health condition that's associated with pyoderma gangrenosum.
- A skin biopsy, which may help support the diagnosis or rule out another cause. In this test, your doctor removes a small sample of the affected skin. The skin sample is examined under a microscope. The finding themselves often aren't specific, but they may support a diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum.
References
- Pyoderma gangrenosum. The Merck Manuals Online: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec10/ch117/ch117h.html. Accessed April 21, 2010.
- Peppercorn MA. Skin and eye manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 8, 2010.
- Habif TP. Hypersensitivity syndromes and vasculitis. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00027-4--s0815&uniq=196584586&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9&sid=986856689. Accessed April 21, 2010.
- Cohen PR. Neutrophilic dermatoses: A review of current treatment options. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 2009:10:301.
- Moschella SL. Neutrophilic dermatoses. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 21, 2010.
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