The case of a skin lesion on the wrist
from clinical comments on-line Part 1
In this case a skin lesion is discussed on the wrist rather than the foot. The consultation started with a telemedicine call by phone. As podiatrists are providing clinical comment about skin lesions on-line with the advantage of raising their professional development this example of my own case seemed pertinent. It is important for clinicians to know how to review the upper limb, torso and face as much as the foot. Relating lesions and their locations is an important part of clinical practice.
The profession of podiatry probably has more contact with skin than any other profession except dermatologists. Being skin orientated, podiatrists have learned to differentiate between skin colour and pathology within the epidermo-dermal junction (EDJ). In this article I follow up a blog on Facebook where I posed the following question…
pigmented filamentous lesion 5mm diameter
QUIZ: Budding Podo-dermatologists. Presenting lesion shows a picture of a 5mm filiform nodule on. Site:left wrist. Proximal scar healed nothing to do with nodule. Male, 64 year old in good health Rx Nil. Allergies Nil. Previous skin lesion on face (solar keratosis) and pigmented non malignant lesion on dorsal trunk. History: 1 year duration, started as white pigmented flat area same size. 5 months later elevated with small projections. Knocked on one occasion bled healed and thereafter in the last 2 months pigmented base developed and filamentous projection increased. Consider treatment options. NB seen in dermatology NHS dept and examined under a dermatoscope.
This article will review respondents and comment upon their differential diagnosis and treatment suggestions supporting the reflective statements with comment from reliable dermatological sources.
Reading score for this article = 39
Respondents
The responses show variations in differential diagnoses [DD].
- Cutaneous horn. Action – excise, biopsy, might be malignant. (agreed by 2)
- Looks warty, filiform wart or actinic keratosis, or another solar keratosis.
- looks warty
- hallmarks filiform wart (HPV-2), but the base is pigmented, biopsy or excision with a wide margin
- keratoacanthoma – excise wide margin.
Dermatologist’s Diagnosis
Seborrhoea keratosis. Macro – filiform nodule. No features visually or dermoscopically of malignant melanoma examined under dermoscopy.
Clinical Comment of the case of a skin lesion on the wrist
Comments covering DD suggest a wart with filiform or antennae like features. The epidermo-dermal junction is altered and HPV is certainly a clear leader as a diagnosis. However, the subject has had solar keratosis and this in fact was the initiating cause. The dermatologist was unable to see the earlier features of the solar keratosis. Over a period of 12 months those features changed with the filiform warty appearance. Finally pigmented changes occurred. You can cross check the conditions suggested with their links (blue)
Kerato-acanthoma normally has a plug of keratin in the centre and is raised without the filiform presentation. Facial locations are common and solar damage can precipitate this condition. Actinic keratosis is a good suggestion but is more crusty in appearance. Cutaneous horns in feet are less commonly observed than previously. These lesions do appear elsewhere in the body but the tip of the lesion is far more uniform and certainly not filiform in nature.
Part 2 is now available to discuss the pathology of seborrhoea keratosis and treatment
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Published by Busypencilcase Reflective Communications
Established 2015
Published 30 November 2020 updated 3 March 2021
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