Pseudoepitheliomatous Hyperplasia and Pyoderma Gangrenosum After a Brown Recluse Spider Bite

Brown recluse spider bites may result in extensive soft tissue injury, causing months of disability. We have described a patient who had a series of extensive surgical debridements after envenomation. Despite skin grafting, persistent cutaneous lesions and extensive satellitosis progressed to involve the entire lower extremity. A recent biopsy showed pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia and pyoderma gangrenosum complicating the original injury. Although the role of early surgical excision and newer forms of medical treatment including dapsone and antivenom are still in evolution, recent reports suggest that the majority of patients will respond to medical therapy and may not require any surgical intervention.