BENIGN SKIN DISEASE Flashcards
What is a seborrhoeic keratoses?
A benign, warty, epidermal growth that occurs commonly with skin aging
What age are seborrhoeic keratoses common in?
Patient over 50
How do seborrheic keratoses present?
Usually multiple lesions over the face and trunk
Flat, raised, filiform and pedunculated subtypes
Has a well-defined, “stuck on” appearance with a fissured keratin surface
Variable colours
Surface may have a greasy scale overlying it
Investigating seborrheoic keratoses?
Typically not necessary due to their characteristic appearance
If any uncertainty or concern, a skin biopsy may be performed to rule out other skin conditions
Dermatoscopy can be used to identify the features described above
Management of seborrheoic keratoses?
Removal is not required
If desired due to it being symptmatic - Cryotherapy, curettage, laser ablation
What is a solar lentigo?
A benign patch of darkened skin from exposure to UV radiation
“Senile freckle” or “old age spot”
Common over the age of 40
What is dermatosis papulosa nigra?
The presence of multiple small 1-5mm diameter, smooth, firm, black or dark brown papules on face and neck
More common in females and in people of colour
Usually begins in adolescence and incidence, number, size of lesions increase with age
What is a melanocytic naevi?
A benign skin lesion due to a local proliferation of melanocytes
What are congenital melanocytic naevi?
Melanocytic naevus appear at, or soon after birth
They are usually greater than 1cm diameter
They have an increased risk of malignant transformation
Often quite large and hairy
What are junctional melanocytic naevi?
Circular macules
May have heterogenous colour even within the same lesion
Due to melanocytes at the basal layer of the epidermis
What are compound melanocytic naevi?
Domed pigmented nodules up to 1cm in diameter
They arise from junctional naevi, usually have uniform colour and are smooth
What is a spitz naevus?
An uncommon type of melanocytic naevus
Usually develop over a few months in children
Ckassically a dome-shaped pink/red/brown papule
Most common on face + legs
May grow up to 1cm rapidly
What is atypical naevus syndrome?
Atypical melanocytic naevi that may be autosomally dominantly inherited
Some individuals may have an increased risk of melanoma
What are epidemic cysts also known as?
Sebaceous cyst
What is an epidermoid cyst?
A benign cyst derived from a epidermis (epidermoid cyst) or the outer root sheath of a heair follicle (pilar cyst)
They are typically filled with keratin or lipid-rich debris
Who do epidermoid cysts most commonly occur in?
Adults
More common in men
Those with Gardner syndrome
Where do epidermoid cysts usually occur?
Face and trunk
What do epidermoid cysts look like?
A firm, flesh-coloured or yellowish round papule or nodule fixed to the skin surface but typically mobile over deeper layers
Diameter 1–3 cm
A central punctum
Foul-smelling cheesy debris can be expressed from the central punctum.
What is another term for a dermatofibroma?
A cutaneous fibrous histiocytoma
What is a dermatofibroma?
A common benign fibrous nodule usually found on the skin of the lower legs
They are benign proliferations of fibroblasts
Sometimes they are attributed to minor trauma e.g. insect bites, injections etc
Who do dermatofibromas typically affect?
Young adults
How do dermatofibromas present?
A solitary 7-10mm nodule tethered to the skin surface but mobile over subcutaneous tissue
Positive dimple sign
Colour usually pink-light brown or dark brown-black in dark skin
The lesions usually feel larger than they appear visually
Histology findings of dermatofibroma?
Proliferating fibroblasts merging with sparsely cellular dermal tissues
Medical term for freckle?
Ephilides