Dermatologic terms Flashcards
Macule
A circumscribed, flat lesion. This is a flat area that differs in color from the surrounding skin. May be produced by vasodilation (e.g. erythema), blood pigments (e.g. ecchymosis), excess melanin (e.g. melasma), deficient melanin (e.g. vitiligo) or by exogenous pigment (e.g. tattoo).
Plaque
A raised lesion with more lateral dimension than height (ie a papule > 5mm) ; sometimes the result of clustering of papules; has the feel of a thickened area of skin’ usually 2 cm or more (e.g. psoriasis)
Patch
Any portion of skin markedly different in appearance or character from its surroundings. Some dermatologists restrict its use to large macules (>5mm); others use it to refer to relatively thin, but large plaques. Most feel that accurate description can almost always be better served by the more precise terminology, e.g. large macule, or thin plaque.
Papule
Solid, circumscribed elevated lesion <5mm; often caused by accumulation of inflammatory cells, proliferation of neoplastic cells or deposit of metabolic by-products. By careful examination, often possible to determine whether the papule involves predominantly epidermis (e.g. warts) or dermis (e.g. papular granuloma annulare) or both (e.g. lichen planus).
Macule is to patch what papule is to ____.
plaque
papule:plaque::macule:?
patch
Similar to a papule, but 5 mm-5 cm. May be seen as an elevation or can be palpated. May involve epidermis and dermis OR dermis and subcutaneous fat OR subcutaneous fat alone. May consist of edema, inflammation, granulomas or neoplastic cells. (e.g. rheumatoid nodules; erythema nodosum)
Nodule
Nodule
Similar to a papule, but 5 mm-5 cm. May be seen as an elevation or can be palpated. May involve epidermis and dermis OR dermis and subcutaneous fat OR subcutaneous fat alone. May consist of edema, inflammation, granulomas or neoplastic cells. (e.g. rheumatoid nodules; erythema nodosum)
Tumor
Solid mass >5 cm; usually extending deeply into the skin. May be inflammatory, non-inflammatory, benign or malignant. Because many patients believe this term implies a strictly poor prognosis, it should be used with caution. (e.g. A giant benign lipoma is a tumor.)
Vesicle
Small (<5mm), circumscribed, raised lesion that contains fluid. (e.g. pompholyx or many early-onset herpes blisters)
Bulla
Larger (>5mm) vesicle; also called a “blister” (e.g. acute contact dermatitis or the friction blister that comes on one’s heel after a long walk in poorly fitting shoes)
Macule : patch
Papule : plaque
Vesicle: ?
bulla
A linear, punctate or sometimes arborizing thin blood vessel.
telangiectasia (a macule)
Transient, pink elevation of the skin; caused by edema in the dermis or occasionally in the dermis and fat. Often surrounded by a red flare. The skin surface reflects the presence of edema fluid by showing pores that look stretched like the surface of an orange, hence the term peau d’orange to describe these wheals.
Wheal (can be papules or plaques; synonym: Hive):
A plugged, dilated pore
Comedo (a papule; plural = Comedones):, often called blackhead (“open” comedo) or whitehead (“closed” comedo).
Semisolid or fluid-filled mass surrounded by a capsule; usually located deeply. In same cases, this lesion is like a water-filled balloon beneath the skin.
Cyst (a nodule or tumor)
Localized collection of pus in a cavity formed by disintegration or necrosis of tissue.
Abscess (a nodule)
What diseases present as umbilicated lesions?
Viral diseases such as herpes or molluscum
What diseases present as dome-shaped lesions?
molluscum
What lesions are flat-topped?
Flat warts, lichen planus
What lesions are polygonal?
lichen planus
What lesions are serpiginous?
mycosis fungoides
What do acuminate and filiform mean?
pointed and threadlike, respectively
Scales that are fine and loose are called? Those are characteristic of which diseases?
Furfuraceous/Branny
Tinea versicolor and pityriasis rosea
Scales that are ichthyotic are …? What diseases?
Large and polygonal
A group of inherited and aquired disorders of keratinization, termed the ichthyoses
How would you describe the scales characteristic of parakeratosis, especially psoriasis?
silvery/micaceous
What do you call nuclei retention in the stratum corneum?
parakeratosis
“Greasy” scales (yellowish and moist) are characteristic of …
seborrheic dermatitis
What is a collarette?
a fine peripherally-attached and centrally detached scale at the edge of an inflammatory lesion, usually seen whnen a vesicle or pursule is resolving
What do you call superficial shedding or peeling of the epidermis, usu. seen with resolution of a primary dermatitis such as an exantematous drug eruption?
desquamation
Thinning of the skin; appreciated best by palpation. Characterized by loss of normal skin markings. May affect epidermis, dermis OR subcutaneous fat. May be fine wrinkles & increased translucency unless sclerosis is associated.
Atrophy
A small tunnel in the skin that houses a parasite such as scabies mite.
Burrow:
A crack in the epidermis
Fissure
Superficial loss of epidermis; not associated with scarring; often accompanies vesicles bullae or pustules
Erosion
A deep erosion resulting form loss of epidermis and part of dermic; often heals with a scar
Ulcer
A linear erosion caused by scratching; may be superficial or deep.
Excoriation
Formation of excessive fibrous tissue.
Fibrosis
Accumulation of moist sebum, serum, cellular & bacterial debris over a damaged epidermis; often overlies erosion and is seen in vesicles, bullae, and pustules.
Oozing
Accumulation of dried sebum, serum, cellular & bacterial debris over a damaged epidermis; often overlies erosion and is seen in vesicles, bullae, and pustules.
Crust
Thickened skin with accentuated surface markings caused by chronic rubbing, and scratching.
Lichenification
Replacement by fibrous tissue of another tissue that has been destroyed by injury or disease.
Scar
What are the three major types of scars?
- hypertrophic: elevated with excess growth of fibrous tissue
- atrophic: thin & wrinkled
- cribriform: scar is perforated with multiple small pits
The association of hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, atrophy, and telangiectasia all in one skin lesion. This finding can be seen, for example, in some cutaneous lymphomas.
Poikiloderma
Diffuse or circumscribed induration of the subcutaneous tissues. May involve dermis when the overlying epidermis may be atrophic.
Sclerosis:
A tract leading from a suppurative cavity to the skin surface or between cystic or abscess cavities.
Sinus:
Linear arrangements might be:
- due to exogenous agents (Koebnerization)
- related to internal anatomic or developmental structures (embryonic dev. lines in skin or blood or lymphatic vessels)
Examples of annular arrangements?
Lyme disease, tinea corporis, basal cell carcinoma, annular urticaria
The following processes would result in what type of arrangement?
- centrifugal extension of infection from point of inoculation
- neoplastic process that leaves central scarring or ulceration
- an allergic process with a refractory state in the central area
Annular
clustered
agminate
ring shaped with active edge and clear center
annular
arc shaped or incomplete circle
Arcuate
circular
Circinate
blending together
Confluent
remaining separate although close together
Discrete
small dropletlike
Guttate
closely grouped vesicles (herpeslike)
Herpetiform
coin shaped
Nummular
oval shaped
Ovoid
Pedunculated
on a stalk
Reticulate(d)
resembling a net
Retiform
arranged like a net
Vermiculate
wormlike
Zosteriform
similar to shingles, following along a nerve dermatome
