Dermatologic terms Flashcards
(63 cards)
Macule
A circumscribed, flat lesion. This is a flat area that differs in color from the surrounding skin. May be produced by vasodilation (e.g. erythema), blood pigments (e.g. ecchymosis), excess melanin (e.g. melasma), deficient melanin (e.g. vitiligo) or by exogenous pigment (e.g. tattoo).
Plaque
A raised lesion with more lateral dimension than height (ie a papule > 5mm) ; sometimes the result of clustering of papules; has the feel of a thickened area of skin’ usually 2 cm or more (e.g. psoriasis)
Patch
Any portion of skin markedly different in appearance or character from its surroundings. Some dermatologists restrict its use to large macules (>5mm); others use it to refer to relatively thin, but large plaques. Most feel that accurate description can almost always be better served by the more precise terminology, e.g. large macule, or thin plaque.
Papule
Solid, circumscribed elevated lesion <5mm; often caused by accumulation of inflammatory cells, proliferation of neoplastic cells or deposit of metabolic by-products. By careful examination, often possible to determine whether the papule involves predominantly epidermis (e.g. warts) or dermis (e.g. papular granuloma annulare) or both (e.g. lichen planus).
Macule is to patch what papule is to ____.
plaque
papule:plaque::macule:?
patch
Similar to a papule, but 5 mm-5 cm. May be seen as an elevation or can be palpated. May involve epidermis and dermis OR dermis and subcutaneous fat OR subcutaneous fat alone. May consist of edema, inflammation, granulomas or neoplastic cells. (e.g. rheumatoid nodules; erythema nodosum)
Nodule
Nodule
Similar to a papule, but 5 mm-5 cm. May be seen as an elevation or can be palpated. May involve epidermis and dermis OR dermis and subcutaneous fat OR subcutaneous fat alone. May consist of edema, inflammation, granulomas or neoplastic cells. (e.g. rheumatoid nodules; erythema nodosum)
Tumor
Solid mass >5 cm; usually extending deeply into the skin. May be inflammatory, non-inflammatory, benign or malignant. Because many patients believe this term implies a strictly poor prognosis, it should be used with caution. (e.g. A giant benign lipoma is a tumor.)
Vesicle
Small (<5mm), circumscribed, raised lesion that contains fluid. (e.g. pompholyx or many early-onset herpes blisters)
Bulla
Larger (>5mm) vesicle; also called a “blister” (e.g. acute contact dermatitis or the friction blister that comes on one’s heel after a long walk in poorly fitting shoes)
Macule : patch
Papule : plaque
Vesicle: ?
bulla
A linear, punctate or sometimes arborizing thin blood vessel.
telangiectasia (a macule)
Transient, pink elevation of the skin; caused by edema in the dermis or occasionally in the dermis and fat. Often surrounded by a red flare. The skin surface reflects the presence of edema fluid by showing pores that look stretched like the surface of an orange, hence the term peau d’orange to describe these wheals.
Wheal (can be papules or plaques; synonym: Hive):
A plugged, dilated pore
Comedo (a papule; plural = Comedones):, often called blackhead (“open” comedo) or whitehead (“closed” comedo).
Semisolid or fluid-filled mass surrounded by a capsule; usually located deeply. In same cases, this lesion is like a water-filled balloon beneath the skin.
Cyst (a nodule or tumor)
Localized collection of pus in a cavity formed by disintegration or necrosis of tissue.
Abscess (a nodule)
What diseases present as umbilicated lesions?
Viral diseases such as herpes or molluscum
What diseases present as dome-shaped lesions?
molluscum
What lesions are flat-topped?
Flat warts, lichen planus
What lesions are polygonal?
lichen planus
What lesions are serpiginous?
mycosis fungoides
What do acuminate and filiform mean?
pointed and threadlike, respectively
Scales that are fine and loose are called? Those are characteristic of which diseases?
Furfuraceous/Branny
Tinea versicolor and pityriasis rosea
