Respiratory signs

Question 1

Answer 1

Clubbing

Greater curvature of the nails in all directions and loss of the angle between the nail and nail fold

• Bronchial lung cancer
• Chronic lung suppuration
  
  • Empyema, abscess
  • Bronchiectasis
  • Cystic fibrosis
• Fibrosing alveolitis
• Mesothelioma
• TB

Question 2

Answer 2

Yellow nail syndrome

Nail thickening and colour change to yellow/yellow-green

• Pleural effusion
• Lymphoedema
• Bronchiectasis

Question 3

Answer 3

Tobacco staining

Yellowing/tar staining

• Indicates smoking history

Question 4

Answer 4

Vasculitis

Inflammation of blood vessels

• Systemic lupus erythematosis

Question 5

Answer 5

Asterixis

Flapping tremour

• CO₂ retention

Question 6

Answer 6

Rheumatoid arthritis

Herberden’s and bouchard’s nodes - osteophytes seen with osteoarthritis

• Hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy
• Cancer

Question 7

Answer 7

Horner’s syndrome

Ptosis and constricted pupil

• Pancoast’s tumour

Question 8

Answer 8

Blue lips

• Central cyanosis

Question 9

Answer 9

Blue tinged tongue

Blue lines

• Central cyanosis

Question 10

Answer 10

Pale tongue

• Anaemia

Question 11

Answer 11

Scleroderma

Chronic hardening and contraction of the skin and connective tissue

• Scleroderma

Question 12

Answer 12

Lupus pernio

Raised, hardened lesion of the skin often purplish in colour

• Sarcoidosis

Question 13

Answer 13

Butterfly rash

Red/purplish rash that is mildly scaly

• Lupus erythematosus

Question 14

Answer 14

Ruddy complexion

Red faced

• Polycythaemia (high concentration of red cells)

Question 15

Answer 15

Acromegaly

Abnormal growth of hands, feet and face

• Over production of growth hormone by pituitary gland