Dermatology Differential Diagnosis by Morphology

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Linear Lesions

1. Linear Contact Dermatitis
   • Phytophotodermatitis - Examples: See Image Database.
   • Berloque dermatitis
   • Contact allergic or irritant dermatitis - Examples: See Image Database.
   • Artifact or factitial

2. Koebner Phenomenon
   • Lichen planus - Examples: See Image Database.
   • Eczema (active)
   • Psoriasis - Examples: See Image Database.
   • Auto-inoculation: Verruca, Molluscum contagiosum, etc.) - Examples: See Image Database.

3. Developmental Linear Lesions
   • Epidermal nevi - #1, and #2.
   • Incontinentia pigmenti - #1, #2, and #3.

4. Linear Vascular or Lymphatic Lesions
   • Thrombophlebitis
   • Sporotrichosis - Examples: See Image Database.
   • Coccidioidomycosis

5. Linear Lesions of Childhood (from Hubler et al.: Cutis 14:61-64, 1974)
   • Porokeratosis
   • Lichen striatus
   • Epidermal nevi - #1, and #2.
     • Nevus unis lateris
     • Verrucous nevi
   • Linear verrucae vulgaris
   • Linear lichen planus
   • Linear psoriasis
   • Incontinentia pigmenti - #1, #2, and #3.
   • Linear morphea
   • Erythrokeratoderma variabilis

6. Linear - Others not otherwise specified.
   • Lichen striatus
   • Lichen simplex
   • Lichen sclerosus
   • Morphea - childhood
   • Porokeratosis of Mibelli
   • Herpes zoster

Annular Lesions

1. Characteristic Annular or Acriform
   • Granuloma annulare - #2, and #3.
   • Erythema annulare centrifugum - #2, and #3.
   • Erythema annulare rheumatica
   • Erythema chronicum migrans
   • Erythema gyratum repens
   • Erythema multiforme - #2, #3.
   • Erythema elevatum diutinum
   • Purpura annularis telangiectoides (Majocchi's disease)
   • Syphilis (Secondary and Tertiary Lues - L₃ most characteristic)
   • Sarcoidosis
   • Leprosy (Hanson's Disease) - especially dimorphic leprosy
   • Mycosis fungoides
   • Dermatophytosis - Tinea circinata
   • Majocchi's Purpura - Purpura annularis telangiectasia
   • Porokeratosis of Mibelli
   • Disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis
   • Psoriasis
   • Lichen planus
   • Urticaria
   • Linear IgA Disease
   • Bullous Disease of Childhood
2. LESS Characteristically Annular or Arciform
   • Impetigo
   • Lupus erythematosus
   • Lupus vulgaris
   • Syphilis (Secondary Lues - L₂
   • Seborrheic dermatitis
   • Pityriasis rosea - Herald plaque
   • Subcorneal pustular dermatosis (Sneddon-Wilkinson)
   • Sweet's syndrome (Acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis)

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Figurate Erythemas

1. Erythema multiforme
2. Erythema annulare centrifugum
3. Erythema annulare rheumatica
4. Erythema chronicum migrans
5. Erythema marginatum
6. Erythema gyratum repens

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June, 1996

Dept. of Dermatology / University of Iowa /

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Last updated November 12, 1996