Pre-classDermVocab Flashcards
Annular
Annular lesions are seen in a ring shape. Tinea corporis, erythema migrans (the lesion associated with lyme disease), and granuloma annulare are three common examples.
Discrete
Discrete lesions tend to remain separate. This is a helpful descriptive term but has little specific diagnostic significance.
Clustered
Clustered lesions are those that are grouped together. They are commonly seen in herpes simplex or with insect bites, for example.
Confluent
Lesions which run together
Dermatomal, zosteriform
follow a dermatome. The lesions of varicella zoster (also known as shingles) are the classic example, but there are other lesions which may assume the same pattern.
Eczematoid
lesions are inflamed with a tendency toward clustering, oozing, or crusting.
Follicular
It is sometimes helpful to determine if lesions specifically involve the hair follicle.
Guttate
Guttate lesions look as though someone took a dropper and dropped this lesion on the skin. Guttate lesions are characteristic of one form of psoriasis, though that is not the only example.
Iris lesions
Iris lesions are also known as target lesions and are a series of concentric rings. These have a dark or blistered center. These lesions are frequently seen with erythema multiforme but not exclusively so.
Koebner phenomenon
also called the isomorphic response, refers to the appearance of lesions along a site of injury. This phenomenon is seen in a variety of conditions; for example, lichen planus, warts, molluscum contagiosum, psoriasis, lichen nitidus, and the systemic form of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
Linear lesions
occur in a line or band-like configuration. This descriptive term may apply to a wide variety of disorders. (One should be certain that the lesions are not following a dermatome.)
Multiform
lesions of a variety of shapes.
Reticular
Reticular net-like lesions can be seen in a variety of circumstances; e.g., very commonly in newborns (or even grown children and adults) as cutis marmorata, or with livedo reticularis. The former fades as the skin is warmed the latter becomes more florid.
Serpiginous lesions
wander as though following the track of a snake.
Universalis
refers to a widespread disorder that affects the entire skin.
Scarlatiniform rashes
have the pattern of scarlet fever. The patient with a scarlatiniform rash has innumerable small red papules that are widely and diffusely distributed. Note that the term scarlatiniform does not mean that the patient has scarlet fever, although by definition all patients with scarlet fever have a scarlatiniform rash. Patients with a variety of other conditions such as Kawasaki disease, viral infections, or drug reactions may have rashes with the same pattern.
Strawberry tongue
Patients with scarlet fever, Kawasaki disease or other conditions may develop a distinctive appearance of their tongues. Because of its resemblance to the well-known berry, the appearance is called “strawberry tongue.”
morbilliform
The term “morbilliform” means that the patient has a rash that looks like measles. Patients with measles will have the rash but patients with Kawasaki disease, drug reactions, or other conditions may also have a morbilliform rash. The rash consists of macular lesions that are red and are usually 2-10 mm in diameter but may be confluent in places.
satellite lesions
The term is commonly used to describe a portion of the rash of cutaneous candidiasis in which a beefy red plaque may be found surrounded by numerous, smaller red macules located adjacent to the body of the main lesions.
Pattern of intentional or unintentional injury
One important category of skin lesions involve the form that skin lesions may take in cases of child abuse or other intentional injury (bite marks, slap marks, strap marks, burns, etc.) or in cases of unintentional injury. Abrasions are traumatically caused erosions.
