Newer Signs in Dermatology [2016-2020]

Introduction

Dermatologists have the skill to identify the conditions by the visual appeal of it. The ever increasing conditions in dermatology and their closeness to a number of other conditions make dermatology an extremely challenging field. Refreshing the brains with newly diagnosed signs can help in delineating and correctly diagnosing the conditions and even an underlying systemic disorder.[1] There has been some criticism on the increasing description of signs in the literature, but these are some of the areas, which the residents (especially those having an interest in quizzes) must have an idea about. Literature search was performed using the keywords “sign[it]” in PubMed (with a filter of 5 years), and the results relevant to dermatology were taken into consideration.

Clinical

Axillary ecchymosis sign

In acute pancreatitis, due to the formation of methalbumin; deep blue-colored ecchymosis can be seen in the axilla, which can help in the early diagnosis of pancreatitis and this is also an indicator of the severity of the disease [Figure 1].[2]

Figure 1.

Axillary ecchymosis sign

Hiker's feet sign

It is seen in inflammatory myositis and characterized by bilateral dryness, cracking, and hyperkeratosis on the plantar aspect of the foot.[3]

Iceberg sign

It refers to arctic blue discoloration of the surface of the lesions of actinic keratosis. It is caused due to usage of toning shampoos for white-blonde hair. It is thought to result from the deposition of acid violet dye, which gets trapped amidst the layers of parakeratosis.[4]

Inverse Gottron sign

It is characterized by erythematous flat and ulcerated lesions on the palmar aspects of fingers. It is seen in anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (anti MDA5) antibody-associated dermatomyositis. It is caused due to vasculopathy associated with the antibody-induced damage.[5]

Jacquet's sign

It is seen in traction alopecia. Also known as fold sign, it is characterized by folding of an area of the scalp in the hands. In normal conditions, the scalp cannot be folded as the hair follicles tightly adhere to galea aponeurotica.[6]

Molluscum pendulum necklace sign

It is seen in tuberous sclerosis and characterized by multiple molluscum pendulum (acrochordons) arranged linearly in a necklace pattern on the neck.[7]

Nail flag sign

It is characterized by alternating white and red sequential transverse bands on the nail plate. It is seen in patients having diabetes, leprosy, vitiligo, heart transplant recipients, and diverticulosis; attributed to peripheral vascular changes [Figure 2].[8]

Figure 2.

Nail flag sign

Orange–brown chromonychia sign

It is seen in acute stages of Kawasaki disease in children and characterized by orange–red to brown transverse lines on nails. It is caused due to alteration in nail plate keratinization or a vascular inflammation leading to residual color changes [Figure 3].[9]

Figure 3.

Orange-brown chromonychia

Ovoid palatal sign

It manifests as arcuate erythema with whitish macules on the palate, in dermatomyositis associated with anti-TIF1-γ (p155) antibodies. It is significantly associated with internal malignancy.[10]

Paired ear creases of the helix sign (PECH)

Similar to Frank sign, it is seen in coronary artery disease and metabolic syndrome. It is characterized by paired creases on the helix of the ear. The creases reflect the loss of elastin, and this is attributed to the loss of caliber of the coronary arteries [Figure 4].[11]

Figure 4.

Paired ear creases of the helix (PECH) sign

Plantar ecchymosis sign

This refers to a centrally located mid plantar ecchymosis, due to calcaneal or Lisfranc fracture, because of accumulation of blood in the middle compartment of the foot.[12]

Pseudofringe sign

The true fringe sign is seen in traction alopecia where hairs at the implantation site are spared due to traction. In the initial stages of frontal fibrosing alopecia, there is sparing of the implantation site but later, the fringe becomes rarified and is replaced by scar tissue, with loss of follicular ostia.[13]

Tin tack sign

The appearance of horny plugs on the undersurface of the scale (removed from the affected site) resembles a carpet or a tin tack. It is seen in discoid lupus erythematosus, pemphigus foliaceous, seborrheic dermatitis, lymphoma, captopril- induced lichen planus, and cutaneous leishmaniasis (recently described).[14]

Triangular nasal notch sign

It is seen in patients of Crohn's disease who are on treatment with TNF alpha inhibitors and it is characterized by erythematous-squamous lesions along with fissuring and triangular cicatricial lesion on the nasal soft triangle.[15]

Urschel sign

This refers to the presence of dilated superficial venous collateral vessels on the shoulder and the upper arm. It is seen in Paget–Schroetter syndrome.[16]

Histological

Candle wax sign

It is seen in aggressive basal cell carcinoma. It presents as a restrained investment of the epidermal surface, similar to the drop of wax that has fallen on the ground and hardened as a delicate film.[17]

Salute sign

It is seen in pityriasis rosea where a mound of parakeratotic stratum corneum next to spongiotic focus shows elevation on one side and it is attached to the other side of stratum corneum. This angulated parakeratosis is attached at one end and free at the other end, resembling a salute.[18]

Spade sign

It is seen in acne keloidalis nuchae wherein, the inflammatory infiltrate involves the isthmus and mid dermis. Spade sign refers to thin dilated space which is in the shape of a balloon or spade of playing cards, seen in the sub-acute stage of acne keloidalis nuchae.[19]

Radiological

Bull's head sign

It is seen in synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome. Bone scintigraphy in these cases reveals an increased technitium uptake over the sternoclavicular joints and sternum, giving a bull's head appearance.[20]

Panda and lambda sign

It is seen on a Gallium scan, in patients of sarcoidosis. The panda sign is characterized by increased uptake in parotid and lacrimal glands, whereas lambda sign is increased uptake in the hilar, paratracheal, and mediastinal lymph nodes.[21]

Snakeskin sign

It is seen in esophageal candidiasis on a barium swallow. The yellowish-white plaques seen endoscopically appear as irregular filling defects on barium swallow and in advanced cases, these plaques become confluent giving rise to a snakeskin or cobblestone appearance.[22]

Miscellaneous

Pink sign

A 20-minute occlusive testing may be helpful in identifying urticarial reaction, which could be missed in conventional patch testing which is read at 72 hours. In cases of chronic urticaria, the adhesive patches are peeled off, and the area is identified after 20 minutes, which reveals a pink rim around the allergen strips.[23]

Tasleem's water jet sign

While injecting local anesthesia into warts before ablation, local anesthetic ejects out through the warts like a jet. The reason for the jet is due to the dense papillomatosis which is separated by potential weak spaces. The presence of dense hyperkeratosis, the tough connective tissue of palms and alignment of bent rete ridges towards the center of the wart, does not allow the solution to go deeper, as a result of which the water ejects out like a jet.[24]

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Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.