Family Medicine Board Review by Cynthia M. Waickus

Author:Cynthia M. Waickus
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education
Published: 2010-04-18T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12 Dermatology

Carrie E. Nelson, MD, MS, FAAFP

A 76-year-old, slender woman with no history of diabetes or other endocrine problem has acanthosis nigricans at routine examination. What is a probable diagnosis?

Underlying malignancy. Acanthosis nigricans is often a marker for malignancy, especially of the gastrointestinal tract. It is the velvety brown hyperpigmentation and thickening of the flexures common in the axilla and the groin. It is also associated with obesity, diabetes, and endocrine disorders. In younger age groups, it is more likely to be associated with obesity, insulin resistance, or diabetes mellitus.

What is the most common skin malignancy?

Basal cell carcinoma accounts for 75% of all skin cancers. Eighty percent to 90% of these lesions are found on the head and neck. Basal cell carcinoma appears as a pearly telangiectasia with a central ulceration. It may spread locally but rarely metastasizes.

What are Beau lines?

Transverse grooves in the nail bed that are caused by the disruption of the nail bed matrix secondary to systemic illness. These lines can be used to date illnesses because nails grow 1 mm per month.

What type of scalp hair loss manifests as patches of balding but without scarring?

Alopecia areata.

Alopecia areata can be differentiated from tinea capitis as the source of patchy hair loss in what way?

Tinea capitis hair loss is often characterized by the presence of tiny stumps of hair at the base of the bald area that is caused by the hairs breaking off.

In what areas are Candida albicans infections of the skin most commonly located?

The intertriginous areas (ie, in the folds of the skin, axilla, groin, or under the breasts). C albicans appears as a beefy, red rash with satellite lesions.

How should an uncomplicated skin abscess be treated?

With incision and drainage only

What is folliculitis?

Folliculitis is an infection of the hair follicles usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

When should folliculitis be treated with oral antibiotics?

When it involves the beard (sycosis barbae) or when it is deep or widespread. The drug of choice is a first-generation cephalosporin.

A father is worried that his 5-year-old will contract chicken pox because she was playing with a neighborhood friend who has chicken pox. The neighbor child had crusty lesions all over his body. If this was the only day she played with the neighbor, will she develop chicken pox, too?

No. Chicken pox is contagious only from 48 hours before the rash breaks out until the vesicles have crusted over.

What are the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis?

Poison ivy, poison sumac, poison oak, ragweed, topical medications, nickel, chromium, rubber, glue, cosmetics, and hair dyes

A mother brings her 14-year-old boy to you a week after you prescribed ampicillin for his pharyngitis. She says he developed a rash over his torso, arms, legs, and even the palms of his hands. At examination, the patient has an erythematous, maculopapular rash. What might he have other than pharyngitis?

Infectious mononucleosis. In almost 95% of patients with Epstein-Barr viruses that are treated with ampicillin, a rash will develop. The rash and subsequent desquamation will last about a week.

Ecthyma most commonly manifests on what body parts?

The lower legs.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.