DERMATOLOGY...."Which is which"???

There are good several diseases in dermatology that sound CONFUSINGLY ALIKE.
These will very likely be covered on your examination...so, let's cover them and simplify.


Q:   What is ECHTYMA GANGRENOSUM?


A:   It is an infection of the skin...caused by an undelying  PSEUDOMONAS AUREGINOSA
       systemic infection. Common in the ICU setting.




Q:   What is PYODERMA GANGRENOSUM?


A:   It is an INFLAMMATORY condition...causing necrotizing-bullous eruptions, especially of
       the extremities.  Corticosteroids WILL IMPROVE  and antibitotic (e.g. dapsone) may have added effect.
       There are 3 types...and 70% will be assiciated with a variety of underlying diseases, e.g.
       MULTIPLE MYLOMA, IBD (Crohn's disease/Ulcerative colitis), ARTHRITIS(primarily RA) and DM.



Q:  What is a PYOGENIC GRANULOMA?


A:  It is a HARMLESS skin growth, also called Eruptive Hemangioma, that can occur on any part
      of the body, especially fingers and gingiva.  The name remained...because it was initially thought
     of as being infectious in etiology.



Q:  What is SEBORRHEIC KERATOSIS?


A:  It is a WARTY growth of the skin....predominantly of the elderly....causing a "STUCK-ON"
      appearance, commonly seen on the scalp, face, chest and back.  Can transform into SQUAMUS
      CELL CARCINOMA...in immunocompromised patients.



Q:  What is SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS?


A:  It is a SCALY eruptive lesion seen commonly in AIDS patient and in  patients suffering
      from PARKINSONISM.  The rash typically affects the face, nose, scalp.
      Causative organism is PITYROSPORUM OVALE.
   



Q:  What is ACTINIC KERATOSIS?


A:  It is a PRECANCEROUS condition.....can lead to SQUAMUS CELL CARCINOMA.
      They are "red itchy bumps"...occuring especially on SUN EXPOSED surfaces, such as
      hands, forearms. At times the lesions can BLEED and become painful.



Q:  What is DERMATITIS HERPETIFORMIS?


A:  They are MICROABSCESSES and IgA DEPOSITS on the basement membrane of the skin,
      causing BLISTER like lesions of the elbows, low back, buttocks...likely due to immune mediated
      etiology.   It is commonly assiciated with CELIAC SPRUE...thus, a GLUTEN FREE diet, will
      frequently clear the dermatosis.



Suggest a good memorization of these VERY SIMILAR SOUNDING disorders, as they will be
asked on the examinations.