Describing Lesions

Question 1

Macule

Answer 1

• Flat circumscribed pigmented lesion
• like a freckle
• if large called a patch

Question 2

Erosion

Answer 2

Thinning of epithelial tissue on surface of skin

• CT not affected
• moist, slightly depressed

Question 3

Ulcer

Answer 3

• Crater like lesion
• CT exposed
• scarring can follow

Question 4

Wheal

Answer 4

• slightly raised area of local swelling
• smooth surfaced
• eg bug bite, food allergies

Question 5

Scar

Answer 5

• permanent mark after wound healing
• healing with fibrous tissue
• not commonly seen in oral mucosa

Question 6

Fissure

Answer 6

• linear cleft or furrow of epidermis

- eg fissured tongue

Question 7

Sinus

Answer 7

• abnormal dilated tract channel or fistula

- capped with a parulus

Question 8

Papule

Answer 8

• slightly elevated, circumscribed, less than 5mm, no fluid

Question 9

Plaque

Answer 9

• flat solid raised area of skin

- eg leukoplakia

Question 10

Nodule

Answer 10

Larger papule, >5mm

Question 11

Tumor

Answer 11

Solid mass, more than 2cm
- can be benign or malignant

Benign T: slow grow, less aggressive
Malignant T: spread rapidly, invade adjacent tissues

Question 12

Vesicle

Answer 12

• Small, clear fluid filled
• looks a bit like a small blister
• can be from herpes (fluid will be contagious)

Question 13

Pustule

Answer 13

Circumscribed, filled with creamy pus

- less than 1cm

Question 14

Bulla

Answer 14

Fluid filled blister more than 1 cm in diameter

Question 15

Cyst

Answer 15

Closed sac lined by epithelium

Question 16

Atrophy

Answer 16

Wasting away or decrease in size eg muscle disuse

Question 17

Hypertrophy

Answer 17

Enlargement or overgrowth of a cell eg, muscles of mastication in chronic bruxism

Question 18

Hypoplasia

Answer 18

Underdeveloped tissue that has decreased # of cells, or creates decreased # of cells
eg enamel hypoplasia

Question 19

Hyperplasia

Answer 19

Increase in the # of normal cells in a tissue. Causes increased volume of the size of the organ. Eg chronic pulpitis

Question 20

Metaplasia

Answer 20

Replacement of one cell with that of another not normal for that tissue.

Question 21

Dysplasia

Answer 21

Disordered growth and loss of the normal maturation of cells.

Question 22

Carcinoma

Answer 22

Malignant neoplasm made up of epithelial cells. *most common form of oral cancer.

Question 23

Lobule

Answer 23

Segment/lobe that is part of a whole. Can be fused together.

Question 24

Pedunculated

Answer 24

• Describes the base
• like a mushroom, stem like
• explorer can hook underneath it

Question 25

Sessile

Answer 25

Flat based, broad

Question 26

Fluctuant

Answer 26

fluid filled

Question 27

Erythema

Answer 27

Redness

Question 28

Pallor

Answer 28

Paleness