... that the erosion is the primary lesion and the redness and scale are secondary, while the correct interpretation would be that thepatient has a pruritic eczematous dermatitis with erosions caused ... (Table 52-4) For instance, the finding of scaling papules (present in patients with psoriasis or atopic dermatitis) places thepatient in a different diagnostic category than would hemorrhagic papules, ... important to differentiate primary from secondary skin lesions If the examiner focuses on linear erosions overlying an area of erythema and scaling, he or she may incorrectly assume that the erosion...
... elicits the desire to scratch Pruritus is often the predominant symptom of inflammatory skin diseases (e.g., atopic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis); it is also commonly associated with ... epidermal atrophy) Scar: A change in the skin secondary to trauma or inflammation Sites may be erythematous, hypopigmented, or hyperpigmented depending on their age or character Sites on hair-bearing ... Lichenoid: Violaceous to purple, polygonal lesions that resemble those seen in lichen planus Milia: Small, firm, white papules filled with keratin Morbilliform: Generalized, small erythematous macules...
... highly with diagnosis (Fig 52-6) For example, a hospitalized patientwith a generalized erythematous exanthem is more likely to have a drug eruption than is a patientwith a similar rash limited to ... possible to assess the distribution of the eruption accurately Thepatient should first be viewed from a distance of about 1.5–2 m (4–6 ft) so that the general character of the skin and the distribution ... patientwith cutaneous small vessel vasculitis (Courtesy of Robert Swerlick, MD; with permission.)[newpage] APPROACHTOTHE PATIENT: SKIN DISORDER In examining the skin it is usually advisable to...
... The distribution of some common dermatologic diseases and lesions Figure 52-7 Psoriasis This papulosquamous skin disease is characterized by small and large erythematous papules and plaques with...
... contrast, lesions with a generalized arrangement are common and suggest a systemic etiology Figure 52-9 Erythema multiforme This eruption is characterized by multiple erythematous plaques with a target ... usually represents a hypersensitivity reaction to drugs (e.g., sulfonylamides) or infections (e.g., HSV) (Courtesy of the Yale Resident's Slide Collection; with permission.) Figure 52-10 ...
... against the surface of the skin and rotated with downward pressure until it penetrates tothe subcutaneous tissue The circular biopsy is then lifted with forceps, and the bottom is cut with iris ... area of skin is anesthetized with 1% lidocaine with or without epinephrine The skin lesion in question can be excised or saucerized with a scalpel or removed by punch biopsy In the latter technique, ... History of allergies Presence of photosensitivity Review of systems Family history (particularly relevant for patients with melanoma, atopy, psoriasis, or acne) 10 Social, sexual, or travel history...
... to document sensitivity to a specific antigen In this procedure, a battery of suspected allergens is applied tothepatient' s back under occlusive dressings and allowed to remain in contact with ... physicians with special expertise in patch testing and is often helpful in the evaluation of patients with chronic dermatitis FURTHER READINGS Dermatology Lexicon Project: www.futurehealth.rochester.edu/dlp2/ ... designed to assess whether a skin lesion will blanch with pressure as, for example, in determining whether a red lesion is hemorrhagic or simply blood-filled Urticaria (Fig 52-11) will blanch with...
... same as the prognosis of the person with aortic stenosis who develops the first symptoms of congestive heart failure (median survival, ~8 months) However, thepatientwith heart disease ... malfunction one step further Not only is there a failure of the cancer cell to maintain its specialized function, but it also strikes out on its own; the cancer cell competes to survive using natural ... selection to seek advantage over normal cells in a recapitulation of evolution One consequence of the traitorous behavior of cancer cells is that thepatient feels betrayed by his or her body The cancer...
... The past medical history may alert the physician tothe presence of underlying diseases that may affect the choice of therapy or the side effects of treatment The social history may reveal occupational ... predisposition and point out the need to begin surveillance or other preventive therapy for unaffected siblings of thepatientThe review of systems may suggest early symptoms of metastatic disease ... 77-3 Patient Management Important information is obtained from every portion of the routine history and physical examination The duration of symptoms may reveal the chronicity of disease The past...
... Against Cancer and the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) The TNM classification is an anatomically based system that categorizes the tumor on the basis of the size of the primary tumor ... other prognostic factors have been identified (Chaps 104, 105, and 106) In addition to tumor burden, a second major determinant of treatment outcome is the physiologic reserve of thepatient Patients ... are likely to fare worse, stage for stage, than fully active patients Physiologic reserve is a determinant of how a patient is likely to cope withthe physiologic stresses imposed by the cancer...
... physician also has much to offer thepatient for whom curative therapy is no longer an option Often a combination of guilt and frustration over the inability to cure thepatient and the pressure of a ... 81) Tools are now available to minimize theacute toxicity of cancer treatment New symptoms developing in the course of cancer treatment should always be assumed to be reversible until proven otherwise ... schedule greatly limit the time a physician spends with a patient who is receiving only palliative care Resist these forces In addition tothe medicines administered to alleviate symptoms (see below),...
... most patients who are cured of cancer return to normal lives Supportive Care In many ways, the success of cancer therapy depends on the success of the supportive care Failure to control the symptoms ... nonjudgmental, so that patients are more likely to discuss withthe physician what they are actually doing The appearance of unexpected toxicity may be an indication that a supplemental therapy is being ... in the course of their disease Unsound approaches are usually hawked on the basis of unsubstantiated anecdotes and not only cannot help thepatient but may be harmful Physicians should strive to...
... which to indicate the severity of thepainThe clinical condition is often dynamic, making it necessary to reassess thepatient frequently Pain therapy should not be withheld while the cause of pain ... chemotherapy (Chap 81) Its severity can be predicted from the drugs used to treat the cancer Three forms of emesis are recognized on the basis of their timing with regard tothe noxious insult Acute ... signals in the chemoreceptor trigger zone in the medulla, the cerebral cortex, and peripherally in the intestinal tract lead to stimulation of the vomiting center in the medulla, the motor center...