Chapter 1: Introduction to Clinical Dermatology
Morphology: Grouping of Lesions
Grouping of Lesions
In addition to describing the appearance of the individual lesions and any changes which have occurred, it is often helpful to describe the shape of the lesion or the pattern of distribution with multiple lesions.
| Discrete | Individual lesions remain separate from each other. |
| Grouped or clustered | Multiple individual lesions appearing in one area. |
| Confluent | Individual lesions tend to blend together where they touch to form larger lesions. |
| Annular | Ring shaped; arranged in a circle with prominence of features on the periphery |
| Arcuate | Arranged in an arc-like formation |
| Nummular | Coin-shaped lesions; round and discrete but usually not annular |
| Reticulated |
Net-like or lacy pattern |
| Guttate | Drop-like lesions, usually referring to flares of psoriasis with small plaques |
| Morbilliform | Appearing in a measles-like fashion with diffuse macular and papular lesions |
| Dermaromal | Appearing in an area which corresponds to a single sensory nerve root |
| Linear | Arranged in a line |
| Serpentine | Arranged in a snake-line linear pattern |
