Macule

Aka: Macule, Patch

advertisement

II. Description

  1. Non-palpable flat lesion with Skin Color change
  2. Patches are Macule that are >3-4 cm in diameter

III. Signs

  1. Macules are flat and not palpable
    1. If raised, then consider Papule or Plaque
    2. Methods to determine if lesion raised
      1. Side lighting
      2. Careful palpation
  2. Color
    1. Hypopigmentation (e.g. Vitiligo)
    2. Hyperpigmentation
      1. Melanin (e.g. Cafe-Au-Lait Spots)
      2. Hemosiderin (e.g. Mongolian Spots)
    3. Vascular changes (e.g. Capillary Hemangioma)

IV. Causes: Examples

  1. See Cutaneous Conditions in Febrile Patients (often maculopapular)
  2. Drug Eruption
  3. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or Discoid Lupus
  4. Pityriasis Rosea
  5. Seborrheic Dermatitis
  6. Secondary Syphilis
  7. Vitiligo

Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)

These images are a random sampling from a Bing search on the term "Macule." Click on the image (or right click) to open the source website in a new browser window. Search Bing for all related images

Related Topics in Examination

advertisement