SUPPLEMENT. BASIC TERMINOLOGY

A

Acne

Acne is a general term used for eruptive disease of the skin. It is sometimes used as a synonym for Acne vulgaris. However, there are several different types of acne:

• acne conglobata;
• acne miliaris necrotica;
• tropical acne;
• infantile acne/neonatal acne;
• excoriated acne;
• acne fulminans;
• drug-induced acne/acne medicamentosa (steroid acne);
• halogen acne;
• chloracne;
• oil acne;
• tar acne;
• acne cosmetica;
• occupational acne;
• acne aestivalis;
• acne keloidalis nuchae;
• acne mechanica;
• acne with facial edema;
• pomade acne;
• acne necrotica;
• lupus miliaris disseminatus faciei.

Alopecia

Alopecia is a medical term for loss of hair from the head or body, sometimes to the extent of baldness.

B

Balanitis

Balanitis (from Greek: balanos “acorn”) is inflammation of the glans penis. When the foreskin (or prepuce) is also affected, it is termed balanoposthitis.

Balanoposthitis

Balanoposthitis is inflammation of the glans penis and the prepuce.

Biett’s collarette

Biett’s collarette: a syphilitic sign where the center of a papule is encircled by a ring of scales.

Biett, Laurent-Theodore

Biett, Laurent-Theodore (25 July 1781 — 3 March 1840) was a Swiss-born dermatologist from Schams in the canton of Graubunden. He is chiefly remem­bered for introducing into France an anatomical methodology of analyzing skin diseases; a system that was first developed by British dermatologist Robert Willan (1757–1812).

C

Cardiovascular syphilis

Cardiovascular complications include syphilitic aortitis, aortic aneurysm, aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva and aortic regurgitation. Syphilis infects the ascending aorta causing aortic dilation and aortic regurgitation. This can be heard with a stethoscope as a heart murmur. Contraction of the tunica intima leads to a tree bark appearance that is wrinkly. Aortic valve dilation and subsequent in­sufficiency leads to diastolic regurgitation and causes massive hypertrophy of the left ventricle. The heart grows so large (over 1,000 grams) that the heart is termed cor bovinum (cow’s heart). The course can be insidious and heart failure may be the presenting sign after years of disease. The infection can also occur in the coronary arteries and cause narrowing of the vessels. Syphilitic aortitis can cause de Musset’s sign, a characteristic bobbing of the head in synchrony with the heartbeat. The clinical course of these cardiovascular effects causes medi­astinal encroachment and secondary respiratory difficulties (dyspnea), difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) and persistent cough because of pressure on the recurrent laryngeal nerve triggering the cough reflex. Pain can stem from erosion of the ribs or vertebrae. Also, the cor bovinum can lead to coronary ostia obstruction and ischemia. The aneurysm developed during the disease course may also rupture, leading to massive intrathoracic hemorrhage and likely death; although the most likely cause of death is heart failure resulting from aortic regurgitation.

Cervix

The cervix (or neck of the uterus) is the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins the top portion of the vagina. It is cylindrical or conical in shape and protrudes through the upper anterior vaginal wall. Approximately half its length is visible with appropriate medical equipment; the remainder lies above the vagina beyond view. It is occasionally called “cervix uteri”. Cervix means neck in Latin.

Chancre

A chancre is a painless ulceration formed during the primary stage of syphi­lis. This infectious lesion forms approximately 21 days after the initial exposure to Treponema pallidum, the gram-negative spirochaete bacterium causing syphi­lis. Chancres transmit the sexually transmissible disease of syphilis through direct physical contact. These ulcers usually form on or around the anus, mouth, penis, and vagina. Chancres may clear after three to six weeks without treatment.

Condyloma

Condyloma (plural: “condylomata”, from Greek “knuckle”) refers to an in­fection of the genitals. The two subtypes are: Condyloma acuminatum, or genital warts, caused by human papilloma virus subtypes 6, 11, and others, and Condyloma latum, white lesions associated with secondary syphilis.

Crust

Crust is dried serum, pus, or blood usually mixed with epithelial and some­times bacterial debris.

D

Depigmentation

Depigmentation is the lightening of the skin, or loss of pigment. Depigmentation of the skin can be caused by a number of local and systemic conditions. The pig­ment loss can be partial (injury to the skin) or complete (caused by vitiligo). It can be temporary (from tinea versicolor) or permanent (from albinism).

Diffuse

Diffuse not definitely limited or localized; widely distributed.

E

Ecthyma

Ecthyma is a variation of impetigo, presenting at a deeper level of tissue. It is usually associated with Group A (beta-hemolytic) Streptococcus (ab­breviated GAS).

Ecthyma gangrenosum

Ecthyma gangrenosum is an infection of the skin typically caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It presents as a round or oval lesion, 1 cm to 15 cm in diameter, with a halo of erythema. A necrotic center is usually present, repre­senting where the organism invaded blood vessels and caused infarctions. These ulceritic lesions are single or multiple and heal with scar formation. It is a pos­sible complication of sepsis from pseudomonal organisms or other gram-negative bacteria.