Terminology Flashcards
Primary lesion
Caused directly by disease process
Macule
Flat
Patch
Flat > .5 cm
Papule / pustule
Raised, domed,
Nodule
Raised, domed, > .5 cm
Papule
Raised, flat top,
Plaque
Raised, flat-top, > .5 cm
Vesicle
Blister (fluid filled)
Bulla
Blister (fluid filled) > .5 cm
Erosion
Denudation of epidermis only
Non-scarring
Ulcer
Denudation of epidermis and dermis
Scarring
Wheal
Edematous, transient, flat-topped plaque
Typical of urticaria (hives)
Center may appear lighter than edge
Secondary Features
Changes due to external factors, such as scratching, trauma, infection, or healing
Scale
Thickening of stratum corneum Adherent White / fine (typical of xerosis) Yellow / greasy (typical of seborrheic dermatitis) Hyperkeratotic
Crust
Dried endogenous material
May be serous (common in eczema), hemorrhagic, or honey-colored (impetigo)
Excoriation
Linear erosions from scratching
Lichenification
Thickening of skin w/ accentuation of skin markings (ridged surface) due to chronic scratching / rubbing
Fissure
Linear crack in skin
Petechiae
Pinpoint red-brown macules due to intradermal hemorrhage. Non-blanching.
Palpable Purpura
Intradermal hemorrhagic papules and plaques. Non-blanching. Bigger spots than petechiae.
Epidermal atrophy
“Cigarette paper” wrinkling
Red / brown color. Telangiectasias (visible blood vessels)
Dermal atrophy
Skin surface is depressed
Brown / black color due to?
Melanin or necrosis
Blue color due to?
Melanin deposited deeper in skin
Yellow color due to?
Sebaceous tissue (oil gland) or intracellular lipids
Annular shape
Round w/ central clearing
Polycystic
Plaques coalesce
Square eruptions or those that follow pattern of external object often due to what?
Contact dermatitis
Serpiginous
Wavy, snake-like border
Stellate
Angulated edges
May be due to scratching or condition of underlying vasculature.
Blaschkoid
Swirling patterns due to post-zygotic mutation of melanocytes or keratinocytes
Dermatomal (Zosteriform)
Linear bands that start and end at midline of trunk
Reflect nerve supply to skin
Ex: Herpes zoster (shingles)
Koebernization
Linear collection of lesions arising from external trauma
Common in psoriasis
Indurated
Firm texture upon palpation
Fluctuant
Compressible denoting underlying fluid or pus
Burrow
Wavy or linear track typical of scabies infection
Impetiginized
Secondarily infected w/ staph
Honey-colored crust
Eschar
Black, adherent crust of necrotic tissue
Pedunculated
Narrower at base of lesion
Which skin cancers are commonly translucent?
Basal cell skin cancer
Umbilicated
Central depression
Classic for molluscum
Verrucus
Rough, warty surface
Papulosquamous (presentation and specific diseases)
Papules and plaques w/ overlying scale
Eczema, psoriasis, contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, tinea infection, drug eruption
Vesiculobullous (presentation and diseases)
Vesicles and bullae
Round erosions w/ collarette of scale reflects a ruptured bulla.
Pemphigus vulgaris, bullous pemphigoid, cicatricial pemphigoid, epidermolysis bullosa, dermatitis herpetiformis, bullous impetigo, bullous tinea infection
Collarette
Narrow rim of loosened keratin overhanging the periphery of a circumscribed skin lesion
Urticarial (presentation and diseases)
Wheals
Urticaria, urticarial drug eruption, and bullous pemphigoid
Acneiform (presentation and diseases)
Papules and pustules w/ follicular involvement
Acnea, rosacea, perioral dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, folliculitis, pyoderma faciale
Rosacea
Chronic skin condition characterized by facial redness, small and superficial dilated blood vessels on facial skin, papules, pustules, and swelling.
Ecchymosis
Subcutaneous purpura > 1 cm or a hematoma. Commonly called a bruise, but bruises are caused by trauma whereas ecchymoses, are not necessarily caused by trauma.
