Plaque (dermatology)

Plaque

Plaque in chronic plaque psoriasis
Specialty| Dermatology
Symptoms| Wide raised lesion of skin or merger of multiple small bumps in the skin[1]

A plaque is a thickened area of skin resulting from a merger of many small bumps.[1][2] It is typically larger than 1cm and feels different to surrounding skin.[3][4] It may be flat-topped or rounded, is slightly elevated and may have a slight dip in the centre.[1][3] It is generally well defined, but can have a blurred border.[5] Plaques may be ring-shaped, half-moon shaped, have multiple sides, shaped like a snake, or have a mixed colour with varied appearance.[5]

Conditions presenting with plaques include psoriasis, nummular dermatitis, and lichen simplex chronicus.[6]

## Contents

* 1 Definition
* 2 Signs and symptoms
* 3 See also
* 4 Reference
* 5 External links

## Definition[edit | edit source]

Papule and plaque

A plaque is a flat, thickened area of skin resulting from a merger of many small bumps.[1] The term originates from the French word for plate.[2]

They can be of various shapes; annular, arcuate, polygonal, polymorphic, serpiginous, or poikilodermatous.[2]

## Signs and symptoms[edit | edit source]

* Chronic plaque psoriasis

* Milia-en-plaque

* Plaque - mycosis fungoides

* Plaque in mouth - lichen planus

* Purplish polygonal plaques in lichen planus

* Granuloma annulare

* Lichen planus

* Mycosis fungoides

* Polymorphic eruption of pregnancy

## See also[edit | edit source]

* List of dermatology terminology

## Reference[edit | edit source]

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 James, William D.; Elston, Dirk; Treat, James R.; Rosenbach, Misha A.; Neuhaus, Isaac (2020). "2. Cutaneous signs and diagnosis". Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology (13th ed.). Elsevier. p. 11\. ISBN 978-0-323-54753-6.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Terminology in dermatology". dermnetnz.org. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Description of Skin Lesions - Dermatologic Disorders". MSD Manual Professional Edition. Archived from the original on 15 April 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
4. ↑ Langlais, Robert P.; Miller, Craig S.; Gehrig, Jill S. (2017). "18. Diagnostic and descritive terminology: macule, patch, erosion, ulcer". Color Atlas of Common Oral Diseases, Enhanced Edition (5th ed.). Burlington: Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 22\. ISBN 978-1-284-24098-6. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Oakley, Amanda. "Terminology in dermatology". dermnetnz.org. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
6. ↑ Bolognia, Jean L.; Schaffer, Julie V.; Duncan, Karynne O.; Ko, Christine (2022). "1. Basics". Dermatology Essentials (2nd ed.). Elsevier. p. 5\. ISBN 978-0-323-70971-2. Archived from the original on 2024-02-12. Retrieved 2024-02-12.

## External links[edit | edit source]

* Diseases Database (DDB): 29379