Skip to Main Content

Chapter 41: Erythema Multiforme

INTRODUCTION

KEY POINTS

  • Erythema multiforme shares the same morphologic appearance across skin types, including a targetoid plaque with a central patch or bullae, but overall varies in color in different skin types.

  • In darker skin, it can be pink-brown to violaceous to dark brown. In the latter cases, it can be harder to see the peripheral halo rim.

  • In lighter skin, it tends to be pink to red centrally with a more visible peripheral halo rim that is hypopigmented to light pink.

image

FIGURE 41-1.

Pink to violaceous plaques with pink vesicular centers on the dorsal hand. (Reproduced with permission from Wolff K, Johnson RA, Saavedra AP, et al. Fitzpatrick’s Color Atlas and Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology, 8th ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill; 2017, Figure 27-38.)

A patient has multiple pink to violet plaques on the dorsal hand. Most plaques have a pink vesicle in the center.
View Full Size||Download Slide (.ppt)
FIGURE 41-2.

Targetoid plaques with brighter pink centers exhibiting early vesicular changes and a pale pink rim on the dorsal hand. (Reproduced with permission from Barnhill RL, Crowson AN, Magro CM, et al. Barnhill’s Dermatopathology, 4th ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill; 2020, Figure 3-7A.)

A dorsal hand with erythema multiforme shows two large circular lesions with three zones. A thin peripheral erythema rim, a pale pallor rim, and central white pus containing red erythematous macule, on the knuckles of the second and third digits are shown.
View Full Size||Download Slide (.ppt)

Pop-up div Successfully Displayed

This div only appears when the trigger link is hovered over. Otherwise it is hidden from view.

This site uses cookies to provide, maintain and improve your experience. MH Privacy Center Close