Inappropriate diagnosis of necrotizing arachnidism. Watch out Miss Muffet--but don't get paranoid.

Abstract

A 28-year-old man presented with painful progressive necrosis of the skin of his left leg which was associated with general toxicity and a high fever. A working diagnosis of necrotizing arachnidism was made, but no improvement followed two weeks of therapy with analgesics, antibiotics and antihistamines. His symptoms responded rapidly to prednisolone therapy, and a diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum was confirmed by biopsy. This subsequently proved to be associated with early acute myelomonocytic leukaemia.

• Authors: D R Kemp
• Journal: The Medical journal of Australia (Med J Aust) Vol. 152 Issue 12 Pg. 669-71 (Jun 18 1990) ISSN: 0025-729X [Print] Australia
• PMID: 2377103 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Biopsy
• Bone Marrow Examination
• Diagnostic Errors
• Gangrene (diagnosis, etiology, pathology)
• Humans
• Leg Ulcer (diagnosis, etiology, pathology)
• Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute (complications, diagnosis, pathology)
• Male
• Pyoderma (diagnosis, etiology, pathology)
• Spider Bites (diagnosis, pathology)