H&N Terms

Question 1

lesion

Answer 1

a GENERAL term to denote a pathologic or traumatic change in tissue. It is NOT descriptive.

Question 2

macule

Answer 2

focal area of color change NOT elevated or depressed in relation to its surroundings; FLAT

Question 3

papule

Answer 3

solid, raised lesion less than 5 mm in diameter

Question 4

nodule

Answer 4

solid, raised lesion greater than 5 mm in diameter

Question 5

erythema

Answer 5

red in color; a common but non-specific sign of irritation, injury or inflammation caused by dilation of superficial blood vessels

Question 6

erythematous

Answer 6

relating to or marked by erythema

Question 7

sessile

Answer 7

base is the widest part of an elevated lesion

Question 8

pedunculated

Answer 8

base of an elevated lesion is narrower than the widest part

Question 9

papillary

Answer 9

exhibiting numerous surface projections

Question 10

verrucous

Answer 10

exhibiting a rough, warty surface

Question 11

erosive

Answer 11

superficial, partial or total loss of surface epithelium; may arise secondarily from rupture of bulla (blister)

Question 12

ulcerated

Answer 12

loss of surface epithelium down to the connective tissue. often appears depressed

Question 13

fissure

Answer 13

narrow, slit-like ulceration or groove

Question 14

plaque

Answer 14

slightly elevated and generally flat; (homonym of “plaque” which is the soft white bacterial deposit that accumulates on teeth)

Question 15

petechia(e)

Answer 15

flat, round, pinpoint area(s) of hemorrhage, usually 3 mm or less

Question 16

purpura

Answer 16

hemorrhage into the skin, larger than petechia, but less than 1 cm

Question 17

ecchymosis

Answer 17

flat area of hemorrhage larger than 1 cm; bruise

Question 18

vesicle

Answer 18

fluid-filled, elevated, superficial, 5 mm or less in diameter

Question 19

bulla

Answer 19

fluid-filled, elevated, superficial, greater than 5 mm in diameter

Question 20

pustule

Answer 20

superficial, circumscribed cavity filled with pus (purulent exudate)

Question 21

indurated

Answer 21

hardened

Question 22

fluctuant

Answer 22

wavelike on palpation due to liquid content

Question 23

copious

Answer 23

present in large quantity

Question 24

dermatoglyphics

Answer 24

lines forming a skin pattern

Question 25

crenated

Answer 25

scalloped (curves along the edge)

Question 26

varicose

Answer 26

abnormally swollen, distended or dilated

Question 27

scale

Answer 27

flakes of retained surface keratin

Question 28

crust

Answer 28

dried blood, serum, or purulent exudate (pus) on the skin surface

Question 29

size (clinical)

Answer 29

use a periodontal probe or millimeter/centimeter ruler

Question 30

site (clinical)

Answer 30

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.

Question 31

shape (clinical)

Answer 31

round, oval, irregular, linear, triangular, lacy, crenated, etc.

Question 32

surface (clinical)

Answer 32

raised, flat, fissured, smooth, ragged, cobblestone, plaque, petechiae, purpura, ecchymosis, elevated, depressed, ulcerated, crust, erosive, papillary, verrucous, pustule, vesicle, bulla, etc.

Question 33

symmetry (clinical)

Answer 33

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.

Question 34

color (clinical)

Answer 34

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)

Question 35

borders/margins (clinical)

Answer 35

well-defined, blended, discrete, crisply defined, irregular, scalloped, etc.

Question 36

mode of attachment (clinical)

Answer 36

sessile, pedunculated, broad-based, narrow-based, etc.

Question 37

consistency (clinical)

Answer 37

firm, fluctuant, soft, indurated, hard, boney hard, rubbery, thick, viscous, watery, thin, etc.

Question 38

number (clinical)

Answer 38

1, 2, 3, etc. or solitary, multiple, scattered

Question 39

distribution (clinical)

Answer 39

solitary, widespread

Question 40

size (radiographic)

Answer 40

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.

Question 41

position (radiographic)

Answer 41

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).

Question 42

shape (radiographic)

Answer 42

oval, round, scalloped, scooped, triangular, tear-drop, expansile

Question 43

border (radiographic)

Answer 43

well-demarcated, corticated, well-defined, ill-defined, blended, radiopaque, radiolucent, thick, thin, radiolucent rim

Question 44

density and internal structure (radiographic)

Answer 44

completely radiolucent, completely radiopaque, mixed radiolucent-radiopaque, septae, unilocular, multilocular

Question 45

effects on adjacent structures (radiographic)

Answer 45

expansion, resorption, displacement