Dermatology

Question 1

Define macule

Answer 1

Flat, non-palpable, coloured lesion <1 cm in size. It is usually red, brown or depigmented. Examples include a freckle or a solar lentigo

Question 2

Define patch

Answer 2

Flat, non-palpable lesion >1 cm in size. Examples include larger areas of vitiligo or the early herald patch of pityriasis rosea

Question 3

Define papule

Answer 3

Palpably raised lesion which is less than 1cm in diameter. For example, the papules seen in facial acne

Question 4

Define nodule

Answer 4

Palpably raised lesion >1cm in diameter. For example, a nodular BCC or a dermatofibroma. If you can pinch the lesion between finger and thumb, it is a nodule rather than a papule. In some cases, most of the nodule may lie beneath the skin surface as with a lipoma.

Question 5

Define plaque

Answer 5

Flat-topped, slightly raised, or palpably different areas of skin. For example, the scaly, well-defined red plaques of psoriasis

Question 6

Define vesicle

Answer 6

Small fluid-filled blister <0.5cm in diameter. For example, the vesicles seen in pompholyx eczema

Question 7

Define bulla

Answer 7

Fluid-filled blister >0.5cm in diameter. For example, the bullae seen in bullous pemphigoid or following a burn

Question 8

Define weal

Answer 8

Result of a rapid leak of fluid from blood vessels into the dermis causing a localised area of dermal oedema; usually with erythema and typically last less than 24 hours. For example, in urticaria, oedematous papules or plaques are caused by this swelling in the dermis

Question 9

Define erosion

Answer 9

Produced by surface loss chiefly involving only the epidermis

Question 10

Define ulcer

Answer 10

Tissue loss extends into the dermis. For example, leg ulcer

Question 11

Define skin fissure

Answer 11

Narrow, deep, cleft-shaped ulcer. For example, angular cheilitis or the deep fissures that some patients develop in the heel skin

Question 12

Define excoriation

Answer 12

Scratch marks which can result in erosions or ulcers

Question 13

Define scale

Answer 13

Flaking of the skin due to loss of damaged stratum corneum (as in fungal infection) or abnormal stratum corneum (as in psoriasis). This indicates an abnormality of the epidermis

Question 14

Define crust

Answer 14

Dried surface exudate of blood or serous fluid. For example, in impetigo

Question 15

Define grouped lesions

Answer 15

Multiple but separate lesions centred around on area. For example, herpes simplex viral infection

Question 16

Define disseminated lesions

Answer 16

Multiple small lesions at different sites without any specific pattern. For example, guttate psoriasis

Question 17

Define confluent lesions

Answer 17

Multiple lesions becoming merged together. For example, pityriasis versicolor

Question 18

Define exanthematous lesions

Answer 18

Multiple, red, usually truncal, lesions. For example, drug eruptions or viral exanthems

Question 19

Define erythroderma

Answer 19

Total, or virtually total, redness of the skin. For example, with eczema or psoriasis