Chapter 3: Diagnostic Procedures, Pharmacology, and Abbreviations

Question 1

biopsy

Answer 1

removal of a small piece of living tissue from an organ or other part of the body for microscopic examination to confirm or establish a diagnosis, estimate prognosis, or follow the course of a disease

Question 2

skin test

Answer 2

any test in which a suspected allergen or sensitizer is applied to or injected into the skin to determine the patient’s sensitivity to it.

Question 3

cryosurgery

Answer 3

use of subfreezing temperature, commonly with liquid nitrogen, to destroy abnormal tissue cells, such as unwanted, cancerous, or infected tissue

Question 4

debridement

Answer 4

removal of foreign material, damaged tissue, or cellular debris from a wound or burn to prevent infection and promote healing

Question 5

fulguration

Answer 5

tissue destruction by means of high frequency electrical current; also called electrodesiccation

Question 6

incision and drainage

Answer 6

Incision of a lesion, such as an abscess, followed by the drainage of its contents

Question 7

Mohs surgery

Answer 7

surgical procedure used primarily to treat skin neoplasms in which tumor tissue fixed in place is removed layer by layer for microscopic examination until the entire tumor is removed

Question 8

skin graft

Answer 8

surgical procedure to transplant healthy tissue by applying it to an injured site

Question 9

allograft

Answer 9

transplantation of healthy tissue from one person to another also called a homograft

Question 10

autograft

Answer 10

transplantation of healthy tissue from one site to another in the same individual

Question 11

synthetic

Answer 11

transplantation of artificial skin produced from collagen fibers arranged in a lattice pattern

Question 12

xenograft

Answer 12

transplantation (dermis only) from a foreign donor (usually a pig) and transferred to a human; AKA heterograft

Question 13

skin resurfacing

Answer 13

procedure that repairs damaged skin, acne scars, fine or deep wrinkles, or tattoos or improves skin tone irregularities through the use of topical chemicals, abrasion, or laser

Question 14

chemical peel

Answer 14

use of chemicals to remove outer layers of skin to treat acne scarring and general keratosis as well as for cosmetic purposes to remove fine wrinkles on the face; AKA chemabrasion

Question 15

cutaneous laser

Answer 15

any of several laser treatments employed for cosmetic and plastic surgery

Question 16

dermabrasion

Answer 16

removal of acne scars, nevi, tattoos, or fine wrinkles on the skin through the use of sandpaper, wire brushes, or other abrasive materials on the epidermal layer

Question 17

antibiotics

Answer 17

kill bacteria that cause skin infections

Question 18

antifungal

Answer 18

kill fungi that infect the skin

Question 19

antipruritics

Answer 19

reduce severe itching

Question 20

corticosteroids

Answer 20

anti-inflammatory agents that treat skin inflammation

Question 21

BCC

Answer 21

basal cell carcinoma

Question 22

DM

Answer 22

diabetes mellitus

Question 23

FH

Answer 23

family history

Question 24

I&D

Answer 24

incision and drainage; irrigation and debridement

Question 25

PE

Answer 25

physical examination; pulmonary embolism, pressure equalizing (tube)

Question 26

SCC

Answer 26

squamous cell carcinoma

Question 27

UV

Answer 27

ultraviolet