CDT Dermatological Assessment Methods 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A lesion is described as a 'plaque.' Which of the following best defines this primary skin lesion?
- A fluid-filled elevation less than 1 cm
- A flat, non-palpable color change greater than 1 cm
- A raised, flat-topped lesion greater than 1 cm in diameter (Correct answer)
- A solid elevation less than 1 cm
Correct answer: A raised, flat-topped lesion greater than 1 cm in diameter
A plaque is a raised, flat-topped, palpable lesion greater than 1 cm in diameter, often formed by confluence of papules.
Question 2: During a skin assessment, a technician notes 'telangiectasias.' These are best described as:
- Dilated superficial blood vessels visible through the skin (Correct answer)
- Small subcutaneous hemorrhages
- White macular lesions indicating depigmentation
- Yellow fatty deposits beneath the skin
Correct answer: Dilated superficial blood vessels visible through the skin
Telangiectasias are permanently dilated small superficial blood vessels visible as red or purple linear marks on the skin surface.
Question 3: The Darier sign is elicited by stroking a skin lesion, causing it to urticate (wheal and flare). This sign is diagnostic for:
- Dermatographism
- Mastocytosis (urticaria pigmentosa) (Correct answer)
- Contact dermatitis
- Lichen planus
Correct answer: Mastocytosis (urticaria pigmentosa)
The Darier sign is pathognomonic for mastocytosis; stroking the lesion triggers mast cell degranulation, producing an immediate wheal and flare response.
Question 4: In documenting wound characteristics, the term 'slough' refers to:
- Black, hard, dry necrotic tissue
- Yellow or tan moist devitalized tissue in a wound bed (Correct answer)
- Bright red granulation tissue
- Clear serous wound exudate
Correct answer: Yellow or tan moist devitalized tissue in a wound bed
Slough is moist, yellow, tan, or green devitalized tissue in the wound bed that must be distinguished from healthy granulation tissue.
Question 5: A patient's lesion is described as 'umbilicated.' This means the lesion has:
- A central dell or pit (Correct answer)
- A smooth, shiny surface
- Multiple satellite lesions
- A scaly, verrucous texture
Correct answer: A central dell or pit
Umbilicated lesions have a central depression or pit, characteristic of molluscum contagiosum and some viral skin infections.
Question 6: Which assessment technique is used to determine if a lesion is pulsatile or compressible in order to differentiate vascular from non-vascular lesions?
- Punch biopsy
- Diascopy with glass slide
- Auscultation
- Palpation with single-finger compression (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Palpation with single-finger compression
Palpation with single-finger compression determines whether a lesion is compressible (emptying under pressure), which suggests a vascular lesion like a hemangioma.
Question 7: When performing a KOH (potassium hydroxide) preparation to assess for fungal infection, what does a positive result reveal under microscopy?
- Gram-positive cocci in clusters
- Hyphae or pseudohyphae (Correct answer)
- Acantholytic cells
- Langerhans cell granules
Correct answer: Hyphae or pseudohyphae
A positive KOH preparation shows hyphae, pseudohyphae, or spores (spaghetti-and-meatballs pattern in tinea versicolor), confirming fungal infection.
CDT Dermatological Assessment Methods 3
A lesion is described as a 'plaque.' Which of the following best defines this primary skin lesion?