Malignant wounds are the result of cancerous cells infiltrating the skin and its supporting blood and lymph vessels causing loss in vascularity leading to tissue death.  The lesion may be a result of a primary cancer of a metastasis to the skin from a local tumour or from a tumour in a distant site.  It may take the form of a cavity, an open area on the surface of the skin, skin nodules, or a nodular growth extending from the surface of the skin.  A malignant wound may present with odour, exudate, bleeding, pruritis and pain and interfere with the patient's quality of life.  Malignant wounds occur in 5 to 10% of patients with metastatic disease, most often in the last six months of life.

The purpose of the document "Care of Malignant Wounds" is to provide common guidelines for their care. 

M30CareofMalignantWounds.pdf