Descriptive lesion terms

• Circumscribed area of epidermis or mucosa distinguished by
• color from its surroundings

Is neither elevated nor depressed, be of any size

Lesions <1cm in diameter

Ex: oral melanotic macule, amalgam, India ink/pencil tattoos

“Pigmented Lesion”

Circumscribed area larger than a macule

Is neither elevated nor depressed

Color, texture, or both

Ex: lichen planus, mucous patch of secondary syphilis

“White Lesions”

soft tissue lesion in which the epithelium ABOVE the basal cell layer is denuded

moist and slightly depressed

result from a broken vesicle, epithelial breakdown, or trauma

mucocutaneous erosions

ex. pemphigus, erosive lichen planus, erythema, multiforme

an uncovered wound of cutaneous/mucosal tissue

exhibits tissue disintegration and necrosis

ulcers extend deeper than erions BEYOND the basal layer of of epithelium

ex. apthous stomatitis, infection by viruses (herpes simplex, smallpox, chickenpox and shingles)

an edematous papule or plaque resulting from acute extravasation of serum

only slightly raised

occur most commonly in persons with allergies

develops as a result of histamine release from mast cells/complement cascade

ex. from insect bites, allergy to food, mechanical irritation

a permanant mark remaining after a wound heals

infrequently found in oral cavity

when they occur, an intraoral scar is usually lighter than the adjacent mucose

histologically more dense than adjacent epithelium

ex. fibrotic scar tissue from oral surgery, burns, or intraoral trauma

normal or abnormal linear cleft in the epidermis

affects the tongue, lips, and periooral tissues

variant of normal or disease

diseased result when pathogenic orgs infect a fissue -- cause pain, ulceration and inflammation

is a variation of normal associate with dry mouth and dehydration

ex. angular cheilitis

has 2 meanings:

• 1. normal recess or cavity such as the frontal or maxillary sinus
• 2. an abnormal dilated tract that leads from a suppurative cavity, cyst or abscess to the surface of the epidermis

ex. actinomycosis

superficial, elevated, solid lesion <1cm in diameter

may be attached by a stalk or firm base

often represents a benign or slow-growing lesion

ex. sqamous papilloma

• a flat, solid, raised area > 1cm in diameter
• plaques may extend deeper into the dermis than papules
• edges may be sloped and sometimes surface keratin proliferates

ex. lichen planus, leukoplakia, or melanoma....

• a solid mass of tissue that has the dimension of depth
• like papules, are <1cm in diameter; however, extend deeper into the dermis
• asymptomatic or painful and usually are slow growing
• overylying epidermis is usualy nonfixed
• ex. benign mesenchymal tumors: fibroma, lipoma...

• a solid mass of tissue >1cm in diameter, has dimension of depth.
• also represent a neoplasm - uncontrolled and progressive multiplication of cells that have no physiologic use
• benign or malignant
• benign grow more slowly and ar eless aggressive, do not metatasize, have well-defined margins
• malignant spread rapidly, comprised of aberran neoplastic cells
• carcinoma: malignant cancer of epithelial tissue
• sarcoma: malignant cancer of embryonic connective tissue origin

• circumscribed, fluid-filled elevation in the epidermis <1cm in diameter
• fluid consists of lymph, serum, blood, or infecitous agents
• common in viral infections such as herpes simplex, chickenpox

• circumscribed elevation filled with purulent exudate resulting from an infection <1cm in diameter, may be preceded by vesicel or papule
• creamy white or yellowish, often associated with an epidermal pore (pimple) represented by a pointing abscess
• ex. herpex zoster

• a vesicle that is >1cm in diameter
• accumulation of fluid in epidermal-dermis junction of split in epidermis
• ex. pemphigus, pemphigoid, burns, frictional trauma

• an epithelial-lined mass located in the dermis, subcutaneous tissue, or bone
• result from entrapment of epithelium that grow to produce a cavity
• range from a few mm to several cm in daimeter
• ex: gingival cyst, later periodontal cyts

• dried exudate, excretion or secretion of skin or mucosea
• rarely are intra-orally
• often on lips

• dried epithelium that is superficially located - on the surface
• rarely occur intra-orally
• often on lips
• "epithelial flakes"

a birthmark or a mole on the skin, esp. a birthmark in the form of a raised red patch

a small red or purple spot caused by bleeding into the skin

a rash of purple spots on the skin caused by internal bleeding from small blood vessels.• [with adj. ] any of a number of diseases characterized by such a rash : psychogenic purpura.