Your doctor will likely ask you whether you've recently experienced any trauma, such as an injury or surgery, to the affected area of your body. You'll also talk about your medical history, including any chronic conditions, such as diabetes, which could lead to damaged blood vessels.
Tests and diagnosis Gangrene symptoms, tests used to help make a diagnosis of gangrene include:
- Blood tests. An abnormally elevated white blood cell count often indicates the presence of an infection.
- Imaging tests. An X-ray, a computerized tomography (CT) scan or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan can be used to view interior body structures and assess the extent to which gangrene has spread. An arteriogram is an imaging test used to visualize your arteries. During this test, dye is injected into your bloodstream and X-ray pictures are taken to determine how well blood is flowing through your arteries.An arteriogram can help your doctor find out whether any of your arteries are blocked.
- Surgery. Surgery may be performed to determine the extent to which gangrene has spread within your body.
- Fluid or tissue culture. A culture of the fluid from a blister on your skin may be examined for the bacteria Clostridium perfringens, a common cause of gasgangrene, or your doctor may look at a tissue sample under a microscope forsigns of cell death.
Complications of Gangrene symptoms
Gangrene can lead to scarring or the need for reconstructive surgery. Sometimes, theamount of tissue death is so extensive that a body part, such as your foot, may need tobe removed. Gangrene that is infected with bacteria can spread quickly to other organs and may be fatal if left untreated.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your doctor immediately if:
- A wound does not heal or there are frequent sores in an area
- An area of your skin turns blue or black
- There is foul-smelling discharge from any wound on your body
- You have persistent, unexplained pain in an area
- You have persistent, unexplained fever
