Describing dermatological lesions Flashcards
What mnemonic should you use to describe skin lesions?
SPECL SCAB
S: Size (morphology)
P: Pattern
E: Elevation
C: Colour
L: Location
S: Shape
C: Consistency
A: And secondary lesions
B: Borders
What is meant by describing the size of a skin lesion?
What kinds of primary lesions are there
What are the 3 morphologies of bruises?
Petechiae: Purple/dark red pinpoint bruise smaller than 4mm width
Purpura: Purple/dark red bruise between 4mm-10mm width
Ecchymoses: Purple/dark red bruise larger than 10mm width
What are the 4 morphologies of solid lesions?
Macule
Plaque
Papule
Nodule
What are the 2 morphologies of fluid-filled lesions?
Vesicle
Bulla
What are the 2 morphologies of pus-filled lesions?
Pustule
Cyst
What are the 3 morphologies of depressed lesions?
Erosion
Fissure
Ulcer
What is meant by describing the pattern of a skin lesion?
Which areas on body surface is affected
What is meant by a dermatomal/band-like distribution pattern?
Lesion is confined to an area of skin supplied by a single nerve root
What is meant by a palmoplantar distribution pattern?
Lesion is on palms and soles
What is meant by an extensor distribution pattern?
Lesion is on extensor surfaces of joints, back, shoulders
What is meant by a flexor distribution pattern?
Lesion is on flexor surfaces of joints, trunk, front of neck
What is meant by an intertriginous distribution pattern?
Lesion is on skinfold areas eg. under breast, in axilla, groin
What is meant by a photo-distributed pattern?
Lesion in on areas that are usually exposed to sun eg. face, arms, scalp
What is meant by a widespread distribution pattern?
Lesion is diffuse across multiple body areas or whole body
What is meant by a follicular distribution pattern?
Lesions are located within or around hair follicles
What is meant by a clustered distribution pattern?
Lesions are grouped together tightly
What is meant by describing the elevation of a skin lesion?
Is it raised, flat on the skin surface or depressed
What is meant by describing the colour of a skin lesion?
How is its colour different to the surrounding skin
What term is used to describe red-pink coloured skin lesions?
Erythematous
What term is used to describe purple coloured skin lesions
Purpuric
What term is used to describe the colour of a skin lesion that is paler than the baseline skin colour, but still has pigment?
Hypopigmented
What term is used to describe the colour of a skin lesion that is darker than the baseline skin colour?
Hyperpigmented
What term is used to describe the colour of a skin lesion that has nor pigment?
Vitiligo
When describing the location of a skin lesion, what 3 things should you mention?
Anatomical sites
Unilateral or bilateral
Symmetrical or asymmetrical
How should you describe the shape of a skin lesion?
Geometric shape
eg. Round, oval, annular, targetoid, serpiginous
If there are multiple skin lesions, how should you overall describe their shape?
Are they monomorphic (identical) or polymorphic lesions
What is meant by describing the consistency of a skin lesion, in 2 ways?
Does the surface look pearly, shiny, dull
Does the lesion look hard, soft, flaccid, tense
What is meant by secondary lesions?
Changes in a primary skin lesion that are caused naturally or by the individual
What does skin atrophy look like, as a secondary skin lesion?
Thin and wrinkled skin
What does crusting look like, as a secondary skin lesion?
Dried fluid over the leaking primary lesion
What does excoriation look like, as a secondary skin lesion?
Linear, red scratches due to itching pruritic skin lesion
What does lichenification look like, as a secondary skin lesion?
Plaque of thickened skin with prominent skin markings due to chronic pruritus
What does scale look like, as a secondary skin lesion?
White/silver flakes that form over primary lesion due to increased cell turnover
What does scarring look like, as a secondary skin lesion?
Replacement of normal tissue with fibrosed, hard tissue
Which primary lesions can become erosions then ulcers?
Vesicles, pustules, blisters, bullae, cysts
How should you describe the border of a skin lesion?
Well-demarcated (regular) or poorly-demarcated (irregular)
