Curling's ulcer

Cur·ling's ulcer

noun \ˈkər-liŋz-\

Definition of CURLING'S ULCER

: acute gastroduodenal ulceration following severe skin burns

Biographical Note for CURLING'S ULCER

Curling, Thomas Blizard (1811–1888), British surgeon. Curling is noteworthy for writing two historically important descriptions. In 1850 he published what is thought to be the first accurate clinical picture of cretinism. In 1849 he had examined two cases in which there was a complete absence of thyroid tissue. In 1842 he published his finding that acute ulceration of the duodenum could result from severe skin burns. In 1866 in a follow-up report he described finding burn cases with acute perforated ulcers.