Fatal Case of Vulvar Pyoderma Gangrenosum with Pulmonary Involvement: Case Presentation and Literature Review

Abstract

Introduction: We report a case of a 61-year-old woman with locally destructive vulvar pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) with pulmonary involvement who was refractory to numerous systemic therapies and developed complications resulting in her demise. Objective: To report a rare case of treatment-resistant vulvar PG with pulmonary involvement that proved to be fatal. Methods: PubMed was used to search for other reports that discuss PG, or more specifically perigenital PG, with pulmonary involvement. Results and Conclusion: A thorough review of the literature revealed 33 cases of PG with pulmonary involvement, with only 4 involving the perigenital region. We report the second case of a female with vulvar PG and pulmonary involvement. In contrast to the first case described, our patient did not respond to systemic therapy, and, ultimately, her disease was fatal. It is hoped that with continued documentation of this rare and potentially lethal presentation of PG, physicians will determine more effective treatments.