Small group; the skin exam Flashcards
Define macule
Macule: flat, non-palpable, <1 cm in diameter
Define patch
Patch: flat, non-palpable, >1 cm in diameter
Define papule
Papule: elevated or depressed, palpable, <1 cm in diameter
Define plaque
Plaque: elevated or depressed, palpable, >1 cm in diameter (differs from nodule because of broad and flat surface)
Define nodule
Nodule: palpable, >1 cm in diameter (differs from plaque because of rounded surface)
Define vesicle
Vesicle: fluid-filled blister, <1 cm in diameter
Define bulla
Bulla: fluid-filled blister, >1 cm in diameter
Define pustule
Pustule: pus-filled blister
Define wheal
Wheal: edematous papules and plaques that are characteristic
of hives
Define telangiectasia
Telangiectasia: dilated blood vessels
Define purpura
Purpura: area of hemorrhage; can be flat or elevated
Define petechiae
Petechiae: pinpoint purpura
What are the common secondary lesions?
- Scale: accumulation of stratum corneum
- Crust: dried serum, pus, or blood
- Lichenification: epidermal thickening with accentuation of skin markings
- Induration: dermal thickening causing firm feeling
- Excoriation: linear erosion caused by scratching
- Erosion: open area with partial or full loss of epidermis
- Ulcer: open area with loss of part of dermis
- Fissure: linear ulcer
What words are commonly used to describe a lesion’s configuration/shape?
- Round
- Nummular: coin-shaped
- Geographic: irregularly-bordered like a continent
- Polycyclic: multiple round lesions coalesced together
- Serpiginous: wavy lines
- Annular: ring-like with central clearing
- Arcuate: curved
- Linear: straight line
- Targetoid: like a bulls-eye with at least 3 zones of color (contrast with annular which only has 2 zones)
- Polygonal: resembling a polygon
- Reticulate or retiform: net-like
- Stellate: star-shaped
What words are commonly used to describe a lesion’s distribution?
- Generalized: involving the entire body
- Sun-exposed or photo-distributed: on places that are typically exposed to the sun
- Acral: affecting distal limbs
- Blaschkoid: following Blaschko’s lines (ectodermal development lines)
- Dermatomal: following skin areas supplied by a single spinal nerve
- Symmetrical: equally affecting both sides of the body
- Unilateral: affecting only one side of the body
- Intertriginous: within body folds
Describe this lesion
4-5 mm yellow papule (solitary, smooth, dome-shaped)
Describe this lesion
1 mm skin colored papule (numerous, clustered, shiny, flat topped)
**secondary change= excoriation/crusting
Describe this lesion
Few cm dark brown patch (solitary, well-demarcated)
Describe this lesion
1-2 mm pink/red papules and pustules (innumerable, symmetric and scattered)
Describe this lesion
Geographic well-demarcated pink plaques
**secondary change=scaly
Describe this lesion
2 mm- 1 cm light pink papules and plaques (verrusous)
**secondary change= scale
Describe this lesion
1x3 cm linear tan plaque (verrucous)
Describe this lesion
Depigmented patch
Describe this lesion
1-8 cm yellow/orange plaques (depressed)
**secondary change= atrophy and telangiectasia
Describe this lesion
Dark red plaque/nodule (irregular, geographic, lobulated)
Describe this lesion
Dark purple purpura (clustered, stellate)
Describe this lesion
Purple red with dark centered plaque (annular)
**Secondary change= central vesicles
Describe this lesion
Tense vesicles/bullae (round, some coalesced)
**Secondary lesion= erosion, crusting
Describe this lesion
Dull pink plaque
**Secondary changes= lichenification, excoriation
Describe this lesion
Lavendar/purple polygonal papules
**secondary change= scale (Wickham’s striae)
Describe this lesion
Linear tan/brown macules/patches (blaschkoid distribution)
Describe this lesion
Bright pink patches/plaques (moist, intertriginous)
**secondary changes= erosion, fissure
