Dermatology signs serve as important clues to primary skin disorders and internal conditions.
Objective and Methods:
To highlight major cutaneous signs based on a MEDLINE literature search from 1966 to March 2006.
Results and Conclusions:
A multitude of signs exist in dermatology. Appreciation and knowledge of cutaneous signs will enhance the care of patients with dermatologic manifestations.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Al AboudKAl HawsawiKRameshV. Cutaneous signs. Skinmed2003;2:104–7.
2.
SolomonSSKerlanRMKingLE. Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism with fibrous dysplasia. Arch Dermatol1975;111:90–3.
3.
Asboe-HansenG. Blister-spread induced by finger-pressure, a diagnostic sign in pemphigus. J Invest Dermatol1960;34:5–9.
4.
GrandoSAGrandoAAGlukhenkyBT. History and clinical significance of mechanical symptoms in blistering dermatoses: A reappraisal. J Am Acad Dermatol2003;48:86–92.
5.
HolubarKFatovic-FerencicS. Papillary tip bleeding or the Auspitz phenomenon: A hero wrongly credited and a misnomer resolved. J Am Acad Dermatol2003;48:263–4.
6.
BernhardJD. Auspitz sign is not sensitive or specific for psoriasis. J Am Acad Dermatol1990;22(6 Pt 1):1079–81.
7.
DresnerML. Torsed appendage. Diagnosis and management: Blue dot sign. Urology1973;1:63–6.
8.
PlantinPDelairePSassolasBGuilletG. ‘Butterfly’ sign. J Am Acad Dermatol1989;21(4 Pt 1):809.
9.
KimuraTMiyazawaH. The ‘butterfly’ sign in patients with atopic dermatitis: Evidence for the role of scratching in the development of skin manifestations. J Am Acad Dermatol1989;21(3 Pt 1):579–80.
10.
HurkoOProvostTT. Neurology and the skin. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry1999;66:417–30.
11.
DenguezliMBen NejmaBNouiraR. [Iga linear bullous dermatosis in children. A series of 12 Tunisian patients]. Ann Dermatol Venereol1994;121:888–92.
12.
MerrillJA. Cullen's sign; a historical review and report of histologic observations. Obstet Gynecol1958;12:317–24.
13.
BernJBradleyELIII. Subcutaneous manifestations of severe acute pancreatitis. Pancreas1998;16:551–5.
14.
SkrabsCC. Darier sign: A historical note. Arch Dermatol2002;138:1253–4.
15.
BettoliVPizzigoniSBorghiAVirgiliA. Ofuji papuloerythroderma: A reappraisal of the deck-chair sign. Dermatology2004;209:1–4.
16.
AutierJBuffetMPinquierL. Cutaneous Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia with “deck-chair” sign treated with cyclophosphamide. J Am Acad Dermatol2005;52(2 Suppl 1):45–7.
17.
MeffertJJPeakeMFWildeJL. ‘Dimpling’ is not unique to dermatofibromas. Dermatology1997;195:384–6.
18.
ManabeTInagakiYNakagawaS. Ripple pigmentation of the neck in atopic dermatitis. Am J Dermatopathol1987;9:301–7.
19.
ColverGBMortimerPSMillardPR. The ‘dirty neck’—a reticulate pigmentation in atopics. Clin Exp Dermatol1987;12:1–4.
20.
HumphreysFSpencerJMcLarenKTidmanMJ. An histological and ultrastructural study of the ‘dirty neck’ appearance in atopic eczema. Clin Exp Dermatol1996;21:17–9.
21.
MalakarSDharS. The ‘doughnut sign’ revisited. Dermatology1999;199:373–4.
22.
PavithranK. Acquired syphilis in a patient with late congenital syphilis. Sex Transm Dis1987;14:119–21.
23.
RotsteinERotsteinH. The ear-lobe sign: A helpful sign in facial contact dermatitis. Australas J Dermatol1997;38:215–6.
24.
BunoIJMorelliJGWestonWL. The enamel paint sign in the dermatologic diagnosis of early-onset kwashiorkor. Arch Dermatol1998;134:107–8.
25.
IhmCWHanJH. Diagnostic value of exclamation mark hairs. Dermatology1993;186:99–102.
26.
WheelandRGBurgdorfWHHumphreyGB. The flag sign of chemotherapy. Cancer1983;51:1356–8.
27.
LesbreJPCastierBTribouilloyC. [Frank's sign and coronary disease]. Ann Cardiol Angiol (Paris)1987;36:37–41.
28.
DavisTMBalmeMJacksonD. The diagonal ear lobe crease (Frank's sign) is not associated with coronary artery disease or retinopathy in type 2 diabetes: The Fremantle Diabetes Study. Aust N Z J Med2000;30:573–7.
29.
AggarwalKJainVKGuptaS. Bilateral groove sign with penoscrotal elephantiasis. Sex Transm Infect2002;78:458.
30.
DroletBAClowryLJrMcTigueMKEsterlyNB. The hair collar sign: Marker for cranial dysraphism. Pediatrics1995;96(2 Pt 1): 309–13.
31.
DharSKanwarAJHandaS. ‘Hanging curtain’ sign in pityriasis rosea. Dermatology1995;190:252.
32.
NeeharPBenjaminBSahuA. Heliotrope rash and ‘V’ sign in dermatomyositis. J Assoc Physicians India2003;51:383.
33.
HanifinJMRajkaG. Diagnostic features of atopic eczema. Act Dermatol Venerol1980;92:44–7.
34.
HoaglandRJ. Infectious mononucleosis. Prim Care1975;2:295–307.
35.
BaranRKechijianP. Hutchinson's sign: A reappraisal. J Am Acad Dermatol1996;34:87–90.
36.
KawabataYOharaKHinoHTamakiK. Two kinds of Hutchinson's sign, benign and malignant. J Am Acad Dermatol2001;44:305–7.
37.
TomkinsonARoblinDGBrownMJ. Hutchinson's sign and its importance in rhinology. Rhinology1995;33:180–2.
38.
HalevySFeuermanEJ. The sign of Leser-Trelat. A cutaneous marker for internal malignancy. Int J Dermatol1985;24:359–61.
39.
YehJSMunnSEPlunkettTA. Coexistence of acanthosis nigricans and the sign of Leser-Trelat in a patient with gastric adenocarcinoma: A case report and literature review. J Am Acad Dermatol2000;42(2 Pt 2):357–62.
40.
GoldbergA. Leser-Trelat sign and large-cell carcinoma of the lung. Am Fam Physician1995;51:1825, 1830.
41.
FantiPAMetriMPatriziA. The sign of Leser-Trelat associated with malignant melanoma. Cutis1989;44:39–41.
42.
McCraryMLDavisLS. Sign of Leser-Trelat and mycosis fungoides. J Am Acad Dermatol1998;38:644.
43.
RampenHJSchwengleLE. The sign of Leser-Trelat: Does it exist?J Am Acad Dermatol1989;21:50–5.
44.
SchwartzRA. Sign of Leser-Trelat. J Am Acad Dermatol1996;35:88–95.
45.
WeinsteinCLMillerMHKossardSLittlejohnGO. The scleroderma neck sign. J Rheumatol1989;16:1533–5.
46.
KarthikeyanKThappaDM. Pellagra and skin. Int J Dermatol2002;41:476–81.
47.
GoodmanH. Nikolsky sign; page from notable contributors to the knowledge of dermatology. AMA Arch Derm Syphilol1953;68:334–5.
48.
UzunSDurduM. The specificity and sensitivity of Nikolskiy sign in the diagnosis of pemphigus. J Am Acad Dermatol2006;54:411–5.
49.
KanwarAJDharSGhoshS. ‘Nose sign’ in dermatology. Dermatology1993;187:278.
50.
KouskoukisCEScherRKAckermanAB. The “oil drop” sign of psoriatic nails. A clinical finding specific for psoriasis. Am J Dermatopathol1983;5:259–62.
51.
AltemeierWAIII. A pediatrician's view. A brief history of group A beta hemolytic strep. Pediatr Ann1998;27:264266–7.
52.
ErgunTGurbuzOHarvellJ. The histopathology of pathergy: A chronologic study of skin hyperreactivity in Behcet's disease. Int J Dermatol1998;37:929–33.
53.
SamiiMTatagibaM. Skull base trauma: Diagnosis and management. Neurol Res2002;24:147–56.
VerneuilLDompmartinAComozF. Interstitial granulomatous dermatitis with cutaneous cords and arthritis: A disorder associated with autoantibodies. J Am Acad Dermatol2001;45:286–91.
56.
MizutaniHMizutaniTOkadaH. Round fingerpad sign: An early sign of scleroderma. J Am Acad Dermatol1991;24:67–9.
57.
DaluiskiARahbarBMealsRA. Russell's sign. Subtle hand changes in patients with bulimia nervosa. Clin Orthop Relat Res1997;343:107–9.
58.
SamimiSSSiegfriedEBelsitoDV. A diagnostic pearl: The school chair sign. Cutis2004;74:27–8.
59.
MagroCMDawoodMRCrowsonAN. The cutaneous manifestations of human parvovirus B19 infection. Hum Pathol2000;31:488–97.
60.
FazekasAVigvaryL. [The Sternberg screening test for Marfan's disease]. Orv Hetil1969;110:2872–4.
61.
GrahamJLMerwinCF. The tent sign of pilomatricoma. Cutis1978;22:577–80.
62.
BankDEGrossmanMEKohnSRRabinowitzAD. The thumbprint sign: Rapid diagnosis of disseminated strongyloidiasis. J Am Acad Dermatol1990;23(2 Pt 1):324–6.
BabaMUzunSAcarMA. ‘Tin-tack’ sign in a patient with cutaneous B-cell lymphoma. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol2001;15:360–1.
65.
CowleyNCLawrenceCM. ‘Tin-tack’ sign in seborrhoeic dermatitis. Br J Dermatol1991;124:393–4.
66.
CoxNHTapsonJSFarrPM. Lichen planus associated with captopril: A further disorder demonstrating the ‘tin-tack’ sign. Br J Dermatol1989;120:319–21.
67.
ParamsothyYLawrenceCM. ‘Tin-tack’ sign in localized pemphigus foliaceus. Br J Dermatol1987;116:127–9.
68.
RequenaLAguilarARenedoG. Tripe palms: A cutaneous marker of internal malignancy. J Dermatol1995;22:492–5.
69.
KurzrockRCohenPR. Cutaneous paraneoplastic syndromes in solid tumors. Am J Med1995;99:662–71.
70.
MeiningerMEKendlerJS. Images in clinical medicine. Trousseau's sign. N Engl J Med2000;343:1855.
71.
MascaroJMJrMascaroJM. The dermatologist's position concerning nevi: A vision ranging from “the ugly duckling” to “little red riding hood.”Arch Dermatol1998;134:1484–5.
72.
GouldJWHelmsSESchulzSMStevensSR. Relapsing livedo reticularis in the setting of chronic pancreatitis. J Am Acad Dermatol1998;39:1035–6.
73.
MackeySLWagnerKF. Dermatologic manifestations of parasitic diseases. Infect Dis Clin North Am1994;8:713–43.
