- Inflammatory process causing skin necrosis and ulceration
- Ulcers that develop in association w/IBD, cancer (e.g. pancreatic, leukemia), other systemic autoimmune disorders (e.g. RA)
- Often begins as pustules, which rapidly progress, coalesce and cause skin breakdown
- Most common in legs, though also in unusual places (e.g. chest wall)
- Develop w/o clear explanation or following minor trauma (pathergy)
- Typically painful and progressive
- Non-responsive to usual wound care; not responsive to antibiotics (unless secondarily infected)
- Ulcers can appear necrotic, beefy red, or with eschar
- Sometimes surrounding erythema
- Borders are usually well defined
- Can become secondarily infected