H&N Terms Flashcards
lesion
a GENERAL term to denote a pathologic or traumatic change in tissue. It is NOT descriptive.
macule
focal area of color change NOT elevated or depressed in relation to its surroundings; FLAT
papule
solid, raised lesion less than 5 mm in diameter
nodule
solid, raised lesion greater than 5 mm in diameter
erythema
red in color; a common but non-specific sign of irritation, injury or inflammation caused by dilation of superficial blood vessels
erythematous
relating to or marked by erythema
sessile
base is the widest part of an elevated lesion
pedunculated
base of an elevated lesion is narrower than the widest part
papillary
exhibiting numerous surface projections
verrucous
exhibiting a rough, warty surface
erosive
superficial, partial or total loss of surface epithelium; may arise secondarily from rupture of bulla (blister)
ulcerated
loss of surface epithelium down to the connective tissue. often appears depressed
fissure
narrow, slit-like ulceration or groove
plaque
slightly elevated and generally flat; (homonym of “plaque” which is the soft white bacterial deposit that accumulates on teeth)
petechia(e)
flat, round, pinpoint area(s) of hemorrhage, usually 3 mm or less
purpura
hemorrhage into the skin, larger than petechia, but less than 1 cm
ecchymosis
flat area of hemorrhage larger than 1 cm; bruise
vesicle
fluid-filled, elevated, superficial, 5 mm or less in diameter
bulla
fluid-filled, elevated, superficial, greater than 5 mm in diameter
pustule
superficial, circumscribed cavity filled with pus (purulent exudate)
indurated
hardened
fluctuant
wavelike on palpation due to liquid content
copious
present in large quantity
dermatoglyphics
lines forming a skin pattern
crenated
scalloped (curves along the edge)
varicose
abnormally swollen, distended or dilated
scale
flakes of retained surface keratin
crust
dried blood, serum, or purulent exudate (pus) on the skin surface
size (clinical)
use a periodontal probe or millimeter/centimeter ruler
site (clinical)
tongue, labial and/or buccal mucosa, hard and/or soft palate, be specific; can include right, left, anterior, posterior, superior, inferior, adjacent to…, midline, between, etc.
EX: right buccal mucosa at the line of occlusion near the commissure.
shape (clinical)
round, oval, irregular, linear, triangular, lacy, crenated, etc.
surface (clinical)
raised, flat, fissured, smooth, ragged, cobblestone, plaque, petechiae, purpura, ecchymosis, elevated, depressed, ulcerated, crust, erosive, papillary, verrucous, pustule, vesicle, bulla, etc.
symmetry (clinical)
can pertain to symmetry of the lesion itself or whether the findings are, or are not bilaterally symmetrical.
EX: bilaterally symmetrical on the posterior buccal mucosa.
EX: an asymmetrical dark brown plaque.
color (clinical)
look at the lesion and decide what color it is. It may be tissue-colored. Sometimes 2 or 3 colors can be combined.
EX: a black-blue macule.
EX: coral-pink
EX: white, erythematous (which implies not only red, but that it has this appearance due to injury, inflammation or irritation)
borders/margins (clinical)
well-defined, blended, discrete, crisply defined, irregular, scalloped, etc.
mode of attachment (clinical)
sessile, pedunculated, broad-based, narrow-based, etc.
consistency (clinical)
firm, fluctuant, soft, indurated, hard, boney hard, rubbery, thick, viscous, watery, thin, etc.
number (clinical)
1, 2, 3, etc. or solitary, multiple, scattered
distribution (clinical)
solitary, widespread
size (radiographic)
size on radiographs can be measured in mm or cm, but may best be described by the anatomic position of the boundaries.
EX: extends from the alveolar crest to the superior border of the inferior alveolar and from the mesial root of #31 to the entire distal of #32.
position (radiographic)
localized, generalized, unilateral, bilateral, mandible, maxilla, relation to the crown and/or root. Also, note the position of the epicenter if applicable (i.e. the center of the lesion).
shape (radiographic)
oval, round, scalloped, scooped, triangular, tear-drop, expansile
border (radiographic)
well-demarcated, corticated, well-defined, ill-defined, blended, radiopaque, radiolucent, thick, thin, radiolucent rim
density and internal structure (radiographic)
completely radiolucent, completely radiopaque, mixed radiolucent-radiopaque, septae, unilocular, multilocular
effects on adjacent structures (radiographic)
expansion, resorption, displacement
