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Derm > Language of Dermatology > Flashcards

Language of Dermatology Flashcards

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Dermatology Board Prep flashcards
1
Q

Define External Medicine

A

Includes all coverings of the body which are directly exposed to the outside world including: skin, hair, scalp, nails, nailfolds, mucous, semi-mucous membranes

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2
Q

Internal and external factors affecting tissues exposed to the outside world

A

Internal: disease, infection, inflammation, allergy, neoplasms, other External: disease, infection, allergy, temperature, electromagnetic radiation, atmosphere

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3
Q

What is the value of labs in dermatology?

A

Not as useful as other in other medical disciplines and often unnecessary. Clinical abilities determines Dx and Tx

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4
Q

The complete morphological description of a skin lesion/condition must include the following 4 elements:

A
  1. Type of lesion (1* or 2*) 2. Color/shape/texture 3. Configuration 4. Distribution/location
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5
Q

Define primary lesion

A

Lesions that appear as a direct result of the pathologic process

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6
Q

What is a macule?

A

small spot, not palpable, <1 cm

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7
Q

What is a patch?

A

Large spot, not palpable, > 1 cm. A patch arises de novo or through coalescence of macules

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8
Q

What is a papule?

A

Small bump, superficial, elevated, less than 1 cm

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9
Q

What is a plaque?

A

Large pump, superficial, elevated, > 1cm A plaque arises de novo or as the result of coalescence of papules.

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10
Q

What is a nodule?

A

Has significant deep component, small bump, less than 1 cm

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11
Q

What is a tumor?

A

Significant deep component, large bump > 1 cm

(important to distinguish this use of ‘tumor’ from nondermatologic use describing neoplasms)

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12
Q

What is a vesicle?

A

small bubble, fluid-filled, usually superficial, less than 0.5 cm

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13
Q

What is a bulla?

A

Large bubble, fluid-filled, can be superficial or deep,

>0.5 cm (vesiculobullous lesions are almost always clinically important)

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14
Q

What is a pustule?

A

pus-containing bubble, often categorized according to whether or not the are related to hair follicles)

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15
Q

Compare follicular vs non-follicular pustules

A

Follicular: Infection and inflammation that involves one or more hair follicles. Generally indicative of a local infection. Divided into:

  1. folliculitis: superficial, generally multiple
  2. furuncle: deeper form of folliculitis
  3. carbuncle: ‘boil,’ deeper, multiple follicles coalescing

Non-follicular pustule: may indicate systemic infection

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16
Q

What is a cyst?

A

a sac containing fluid or semi-solid material (cells or cell products)

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17
Q

What is a wheal/hive?

A

Short-lived (<24 hrs), edematous, well circumscribed papules or plaques seen in urticaria

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18
Q

What is a burrow?

A

Small threadlike curvilinear papule that is virtually pathognomonic of scabies

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19
Q

What is a comedone?

A

Acne that is formed around follicles. Can be open (blackhead) or closed (whitehead)

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20
Q

What is atrophy?

A

Thinning of the epidermal or dermal tissue

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21
Q

What is a hypertrophic scar? What is a keloid?

A

hypertrophic scar: do not overgrow the original boundaries Keloids: Can extend beyond the original boundaries and are more chronic in nature

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22
Q

What is fibrosis/sclerosis?

A

dermal scarring/thickening reactions

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23
Q

What are petechia, purpura, ecchymosis?

A

red cells outside the vessel walls that are non-blanchable

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24
Q

What is telangiectasia?

A

dilated, superficial dermal vessels

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25
Q

What is a milium?

A

A small, superficial cyst containing keratin (usually less than 1 to 2 mm in size)

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26
Q

What is a secondary lesion?

A

Lesions that appear as a result of alteration or evolution of a primary lesion (e.g. from rubbing, scratching or necrosis)

27
Q

What is a scale?

A

Accumulation or excess shedding of stratum corneum, very important characteristic in DDx since its presence implies that the epidermis is at least involved in the process; typically present in conditions with epidermal inflammation such as psoriasis, tinea, eczema

28
Q

What is a crust?

A

dried exudate (e.g. blood, serum, pus) on the skin surface

29
Q

What is excoriation?

A

loss of skin due to scratching or picking

30
Q

What is lichenification?

A

an increase in skin lines/creases produced by chronic rubbing

31
Q

What is maceration?

A

Raw, moist, wet tissue

32
Q

What is a fissure?

A

A linear crack in the skin; often very painful

33
Q

What is an erosion?

A

Superficial open wound with loss of epidermis or mucosa only. Usually heals without scarring.

34
Q

What is an ulcer?

A

deeper open wound with partial or complete loss of dermis or submucosa, usually heals with scarring.

35
Q

What is ‘papulosquamous’?

A

elevated lesions and scales. E.g. with psoriasis.

36
Q

Example of a papulopustular lesion

A

Rosacea

37
Q

Example of a muculopapular lesion

A

Certain drug eruptions, viral exanthemas (widespread rash)

38
Q

Example of nodulocystic lesions

A

Severe acne

39
Q

Example of noduloulcerative lesions

A

Deep fungal infections

40
Q

What are the dermatologic terms for: red, purple

A

Red: erythematous Purple: violaceous

41
Q

What does the term ‘pigmented’ mean in derm?

A

Brown, black, grey. Strictly speaking, any lesion that has color is pigmented but the concept of a pigmented lesion is often reserved for brown, black or grey.

42
Q

Difference between hypopigmented and depigmented

A

Hypopigmented: decrease in normal brown, black Depigmented: total absence of normal brown, black (e.g. with vitiligo)

43
Q

What does ‘yellow’ suggest in derm?

A

Presence of a lipid (e.g. xanthelasma, sebaceous hyerplasia) or jaundice

44
Q

How do we describe the shape/texture of lesions in derm?

A

Describe the margins (well-demarcated? or poorly circumscribed?) Describe the number of sides, pattern. Describe the surface: smooth? rough?

45
Q

Define the following: polygonal, targetoid, umbilicated, serpignious and verrucous lesions.

A

Polygonal: many-sided, as in a polygon

Targetoid: like a ‘bulls-eye’ as in erythema multiforme

Umbilicated: lesion with a central dell (e.g. molluscum contagiosum, varicella

Serpiginous??

Verrucous: warty-like surfuce texture

46
Q

How do we describe the configuration of a lesion?

A

Linear, annular, arcuate (curved), polycyclic, reticulate (lacy, net-like), grouped, zosteriform/dermatomal (i.e. distributed along dermatomal lines)

47
Q

How do we describe the distribution/location?

A

* Where is/are the lesion(s)?

* Flexural? extensor?

* symmetric?

* Localized, widespread or generalized?

* erythroderma: >90% of body is red and inflamed +/- scaling

48
Q

What is alopecia?

A

Hair loss

49
Q

What is Koebenerization/Koebner phenomenon?

A

typical lesions induced via scratching/trauma

50
Q

What is pathergy?

A

Production of a pustule via minimal trauma.

51
Q

History taking questions that are SPECIFIC to derm

A

Associated cutaneous symptoms: ask about pruritus, pain, other cutenous Ask about current skin care practices

52
Q

What is involved in a cutaneous examination?

A

Looking at all skin including folds and interdigital webs

53
Q

Which mucous and semi-mucous membranes do we examine?

A

Oral, external auditory meatus, conjunctiva, external nares, external genitalia and perianal region

54
Q

Additional parts of the derm exam

A

Look at nails and nail apparatus Hair: including scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, beard

55
Q

What is the utility of a KOH microscopic exam?

A

Looks for dermatophytes and yeast

56
Q

What is a Woods light?

A

Aka UVA, blacklight. Fluoresecence of erythrasma, vitiligo, tinea capitis

57
Q

What is a dermoscope used for?

A

Evaluation of pigmented lesions

58
Q

What do we use to look for scabies?

A

Scabies oil

59
Q

What is a Tzanck smear used for?

A

For HSV, zoster and varicella

60
Q

What is darkfield examination used for?

A

Syphilis

61
Q

What is patch testing?

A

Done for cutaneous contact allergy- distinct from internal allergy testing performed by an allergist (scratch/prick test) for type I IgE hypersensitivity reactions

62
Q

Name each of these lesions:

A
63
Q

Name each of these:

A

Derm (12 decks)

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