Intro to Path and Differential Diagnosis Flashcards
What are the steps to differential diagnosis?
- Recognition
- Describe the lesion
- Patient Contribution
- Possibilites
- Probabilities
What should you consider about the patient when considering diagnosis?
- Age, gender, race
- Current medical conditions and meds
- Supplements
- Social Hx
- Oral habits
- Past medical history (surgery, chemo, radiation, previous treatment)
What are the basic ways to describe a lesion?
- Size
- Shape
- Color
- Borders
- Texture
- Consistency
- Location
What is a vesicle?
A small circumscribed elevated lesion usually less than 1cm in diameter, usually contains serous fluid
What is a bulla?
Circumscribed elevated lesion that is around 1cm in diameter, usually contains serous fluid
What is a pustule?
Various sized circumscribed elevations containing pus
What is a macule?
An area that is usually distinguished by a color different from that of the surrounding tissue: It is flat and does not protrude above the surface of the normal tissue.
What is a papule?
A small circumscribed lesion usually less than 1cm in diameter that is elevated or protrudes above the surface of normal surrounding tissue.
What is a nodule?
A circumscribed lesion usually greater than 1cm in diameter that is elevated or protrudes above or below the surface of normal surrounding tissue.
What is pedunculated?
Attached by a stem-like or stalk base
What is sessile?
Describing the base of a lesion that is flat
What is an ulcer?
A loss of continuity of the epithelium that penetrates to the the underlying connective tissue
What is a plaque?
A patch or differentiated area on a body surface
What is a corrugated surface texture?
wrinkled
What is a fissure surface texture?
A cleft or grove, normal otherwise, showing prominent depth
What is a papillary surface texture?
Resembling small nipple-shaped projections or elevations found in clusters
vesicle
bulla
pustule
macule
papule
nodule
How is this attached?
pedunculated
How is this attached?
sessile
ulcer
plaque
What texture is this?
corrugated
What texture is this?
fissure
What texture is this?
papillary
What are some ways to describe radiographic lesions?
Radiolucent
Mixed
Radiopaque
What are some ways to describe mucosal and soft tissue lesions?
White
Systemic hyperkeratosis- genodermatoses, syndromes with it
Papillary
Red
Red/White
Colored
Ulcers/Vesiculo-erosive
Soft Tissue masses
What is a differential diagnosis?
An Educated Guess
- Just because you’re sure you “know” what it is, doesn’t make it so
What are the steps to take after a differential diagnosis?
- Alter Environment
- Just observe…..and re-evaluate
- Treat
- Biopsy
- Refer
What is the reflex thinking for white lesions?
- Wipe (does it leave a red area)
- Friction/Trauma
What is the reflex thinking for red lesions?
- Diascopy
- H/O Trauma
- Look for Blanching
What is the reflex thinking for radiographic lesions?
- Vitality testing
- Expansion
What is the reflex thinking for soft tissue lesions?
Different locations have different lesions
What is the most important when making a path diagnosis/differential diagnosis?
Recognition and “Action” are most important
