Dermatology Flashcards
Palpable purpura with dots of necrosis around the ankles, what’s it going to be?
Vasculitis
Nails that are splitting down the middle longitudinally are called…?
Oncholysis
GP refers patient who appears to have a symmetrical bilateral fungal infection of one nail on each hand, what is this more likely to be?
Lichen planus
Why does scarring alopecia (hairloss) differ in severity from non-scarring alopecia?
Once scarred, the hair follicles won’t grow back.
In afro-carribbean patients, braiding can cause scarring alopecia
Coin-shaped demarcated patches of hair loss, no signs of scaling or scarring. Diagnosis?
Alopecia areata
Autoimmune response wipes out hair follicles in discrete areas temporarily, but non-scarring
Common causes of scarring alopecia?
IHx?
Lichen planus
Lupus (discoid)
Loosing locks of hair to traction
FoLLicLlitis
IHx: Biopsy scalp- longitudinal and transverse
Immunofluorescence
Nail signs of psoriasis?
Pitting
Oncholysis- nail splitting
Subungal hyperkeratosis- nail pushed up
1st line Rx of psoriasis?
1: emollients
2: topical agents:
steroids
tar
vit D analogues
Who can’t have Acitretin (retinoid) for generalised psoriasis?
Women of child bearing age- teratogenic
The P’s to describe lichen planus?
Purple- 'violaceous' Planar Polished Pigmented- post inflammatory Pruritic- itchier than psoriasis Papular
Nail signs of psoriasis?
Pitting
Oncholysis- nail splitting
Subungal hyperkeratosis- nail pushed up
Who can’t have Acitretin (retinoid) for generalised psoriasis?
Women of child bearing age- teratogenic
Name for tiny bruise under skin?
petechiae
Name for a small and large flat lesion in derm?
Small- macule
Large- patch
Name for a palpable lump in derm, large or small?
Small- papule (0.5cm)
Large- nodule
A patient has noticed a darkened line under their nail, how can you differentiate between a naevi at the nail bed that has grown out with the nail and a melanoma that is spreading underneath it?
The base of the nail takes a year to reach the finger tip end, if the darkened line remains a linear uniform length, it is a nailbed naevi, if it forms a triangle shape then over a year the pigment is getting wider, so its melanoma until proven otherwise.
Risk Factors for skin cancer
Sun exposure
Fair skin
FHx
Phototherapy
Radiotherapy
Immunosuppression
How do dermatologists differentiate between Bowen’s disease (squamous cell cancer in situ) and an isolated psoriatic plaque?
The plaque tends not to respond to steroids if due to cancer, do a biopsy of it.
Pearlescent pink lesion with rolled edges and a ulcerated centre. Name that lesion?
Basal cell carcinoma
Doesn’t metastasise but can infiltrate
What is a lentigo maligna?
Melanoma in situ, often transforms eventually to malignant melanoma
Why are ulcers in a melanoma a bad sign?
Suggests its growing fast enough to necrose
What things determine the prognosis of a melanoma lesion?
Name 4
Breslow thickness (mm > likelihood of dying)
Ulceration
Mitotic rate- histology
Sentinel node biopsy
Management of a mole suspected to be melanoma?
Wide local excision + sentinel node biopsy
If metastatic: use molecular analysis to determine drug
What surgical approach works well for high risk basal cell carcinoma (ones that are recurrent, infiltrative, near eyes/noses/ears etc)?
Mohs surgery- cut out area, look under microscope at tumour margins there and then.
Commonest organism of colonising acne?
Propionibacterium acnes
Rx of mild acne?
Mild comedonal- topical retinoid
Mild pustular- topical retinoid
or benzoyl peroxide + roll on antibiotic
What Rx option is available to women but not men with severe acne?
Anti-androgens
(Co-cyprinderol)
Antagonise androgen receptors
Most important side effect of oral isotretinoin (retinoid for acne)
Retinoid dries skins up
Teratogenic
Have to do a pregnancy test and remind about contraception
Suicide risk
Also: dry skin/lips, hoarse voice, headache, mood swing
Nikolsky’s sign?
When touching the skin near a blister in a patient with pemphigus, the epidermis comes away.
Pemphigus Rx?
Aggressive immunosupression- prednisolone
IV rituximab or immune globulin have big effect
PemphiguS Vs PemphigoiD?
PhemphiguS- Superficial (erosions), more aggressive, epidermis falling apart, fatal without Rx, autoantibodies between individual epidermal cells
PhemiphigoiD- Deep (tense fluid filled blisters), cells can’t attach to basement membrane (due to autoantibodies)
Dermatitis herpetiformis is associated with which GI disease?
Rx?
Coeliac disease
Pruritic symmetrical papules and vesicles
Rx: gluten free diet ± dapsone
Target shaped erythematous rash on hands and feet in a child, has now got red eye and dried lips. Name the syndrome and rash.
Erythema multiforme
Stephen Johnston syndrome
Child is feverish, red, superficial desquamation of the skin.
The cause is infectious, not autoimmune. Diagnosis and organism?
Scolded skin syndrome- staph
Child with itchy scaly annular and serpiginous rash on what hand, what’s the diagnosis?
Tinea corporis- fungal (ring worm)
IHx: microscopy- hyphae of fungus
Which virus is responsible for Kaposi’s sarcoma?
HHV8
Human Herpes Virus 8
Molluscum contagiosum is caused by…?
Pox virus
Gentleman from the philipines, slowly growing pink plaque that is numb. Diagnosis?
Leprosy- can’t feel it when you stick a pin in the plaque
SEs of oral retinoids used in severe acne and how they should be monitored?
Isotretinoin: (reduces sebum production and pituitary hormones)
Teratogenic (pregnancy test) Dry lips + mouth Hepatitis (AST + ALT) High lipids (triacylglycerides + cholesterol) FBC
What type of hypersensitivity mediates allergic contact dermatitis?
Type IV (T cell)
HIV +ve patient has noticed increased dandruff and a red scaly rash over his cheeks.
Diagnosis, cause, Rx?
Seborrhoeic dermatitis
Skin yeast overgrowth (malassezia)
Daktacort, topical ketokonazole or metronidazole
Child is noted to have multiple small blisters and punched out erosions around mouth and neck.
PMH eczema
FHx: mum had a cold sore last few days
Diagnosis, risk, Rx?
Eczema herpeticum:
Primary herpes infection affecting skin already weakened by eczema
Can be life-threatening
Requires aciclovir
Elderly lady has dry scaling red skin that resembles crazy paving on her legs. What is the diagnosis?
Asteatotic eczema
Patient started getting brown pigments on lower legs around the ankles which has developed into dry scaly skin in the area. Diagnosis and Rx?
Venous stasis eczema forms with venous insufficiency where backflow of blood from deep to superficial veins leads to venous hypertension. Brown haemosiderin > oedema > ulceration
Rx: compression stockings to improve venous return but must check ankle brachial pressure index
Name that eczema:
Itchy coin-shaped lesions on legs
Itching vesicles on fingers and palms
Eczema on legs that are swollen with haemosiderin
Coin shaped- discoid eczema
Palmar vesicles- pompholyx eczema
Haemosiderin- venous eczema
Brown greasy warty lesion found in the elderly?
Senorrhoeic keratoses
How can psoriasis be differentiated from discoid eczema?
Psoriasis on extensors, scalp, natal cleft.
Scales are thicker + get silvery on rubbing + bleed on lifting.
Eczema on flexors
What is Köbner’s phenomenon and which conditions does it occur with?
Where the skin disease occurs along trauma lines, where a patient has scratched themselves
Psoriasis, lichen planus, molluscum contagiosum (pink papules)
Systemic causes of pruritis?
Low iron Lymphoma Liver disease CKD Hypo/hyperthyroid Drugs
What is the ABCDE sign for malignancy when it comes to moles?
Asymmetry Border irregularity Colour (non uniform brown, black, blue, red or whites) Diametre >6mm Evolving over time
When excising a dodgy skin lesion what kind of margin is best to aim for?
> 5mm
Diabetic with waxy/shiny pink plaque on shins that turns yellow?
(not ulcerated)
Necrobiosis lipoidica
May be able to see venules where the skin has thinned
Small pustule developed into a large widening ulcer that has a necrotic purple edge on a patients leg. Diagnosis?
Associations?
Pyoderma gangrenosum, autoimmune related- REALLY PURPLE AROUND IT
A: IBD, autoimmune hepatitis, neoplasia, myeloma, wegeners
Autoimmune causes of subcutaneous nodules?
Autoimmune: Rheumatoid nodules, polyarteritis nodosum, sarcoid, granuloma annulare
Infectious: rheumatic fever
Inherited: tuberous sclerosis, neurofibroma
Metabolic: xanthalasma
Causes erythema multiforme?
PSCH
Target lesions, extensor surfaces + palms + soles
Penicillins
Sulphonamides
MyCoplasma
Herpes simplex (70%)
Aside from the vasculitis rash on buttocks in Henoch Schonlein, name 3 other symptoms that might arise
Arthralgia
Abdo pain
Glomerulonephritis
Patient has non-blanching red blue zigzags with normal skin in between like a diamond shaped hole in a net. What is this rash called and causes?
Livedo reticularis Pregnancy, cold RA, SLE, PAN, Raynaud's, polymyositis TB Lymphoma
Rx if erythema migrans is spotted?
Lyme disease- follows a tick bite but >50% won’t recall bite
Doxycycline 3 wkks or amoxicillin 500mg TDS
What are the skin paraneoplastic signs?
Tumour producing GFs > keratinocytes to flourish:
Leser-Trélat sign- sudden flocks of seborrhoeic keratoses
Tripe palms- ridged velvety lesions
Cutaenous papillomatosis
Acanthosis nigricans
Patient has red rings around their eyes, complains of carpal tunnel syndrome, palpitations and neuropathy
You note they have a big tongue. What is the cause?
Amyloidosis
What types of cancer can cause paraneoplastic dermatomyositis?
Lung, breast
Colon, ovary
Helitrope rash, Gottron’s papules (flat violet knuckle papules)
Builder has noticed a crumbly yellow -white scaly crusty lesion on his forehead. What is it likely to be and how can it be treated?
Actinic (solar) keratoses = pre-malignant
Rx:
If suspect squamous cell ca or recurrent- excision
Cryotherapy
Chemical peeling (often reoccurs)
Patient complains of a funny mole on their face. It is like a pearly nodule with a rolled edge. Rx?
Basal cell carcinoma- rodent ulcer
Excision, radiotherapy if big
Cryotherapy if non-visible site
Patient has a slow growing red scaly plaque on their shin, you suspect it is Bowen’s disease. Rx?
= premalignant for squamous cell carcinoma
Cryotherapy Topical fluorouracil (inhibits pyrimidine enzyme) Photodynamic therapy (sensitise + expose)
Pale patch on skin on patient’s back that feels numb. Diagnosis?
Leprosy
Which cancers more commonly metastasise to skin?
Breast, lung, kidney,
Non-Hodgkins lymphoma and leukaemia
Which type of lymphoma manifests in the skin, what is the resultant lesion called?
Mycosis fungoides- T cell lymphoma (only 20% NHL are T cell)
The leukaemic stage is called Sezary syndrome= erythroderma
What are the skin paraneoplastic signs?
Tumour producing GFs > keratinocytes to flourish:
Leser-Trélat sign- sudden flocks of seborrhoeic keratoses
Tripe palms- ridged velvety lesions
Cutaenous papillomatosis
Acanthosis nigricans