View source for Papule

{{short description|Small, circumscribed, solid elevation of skin with no visible fluid}}
{{Hatnote|Contrast with "macule" and other lesions at [[Skin condition#Primary lesions|Skin condition § Primary lesions]].}}
{{Infobox medical condition (new)
| name            = Pastule
| synonyms        =
| image           = Fibrous papule of the nose 01.jpg
| caption         = Fibrous papule of the nose
| pronounce       = {{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|æ|p|juː|l|}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/papule|title=Papule definition and meaning - Collins English Dictionary}}</ref>
| field           = [[Dermatology]]<ref name=Andrews2020/>
| symptoms        = Small, well-defined bump in [[skin lesion|skin]]<ref name=Andrews2020/>
| complications   =
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<!-- Definition -->
A '''papule''' is a small, well-defined bump in the [[skin lesion|skin]].<ref name=Andrews2020>{{cite book |last1=James |first1=William D. |last2=Elston |first2=Dirk |last3=Treat |first3=James R. |last4=Rosenbach |first4=Misha A. |last5=Neuhaus |first5=Isaac |title=Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology |date=2020 |publisher=Elsevier |isbn=978-0-323-54753-6 |page=11|edition=13th |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UEaEDwAAQBAJ&dq=papule&pg=PA11 |language=en |chapter=2. Cutaneous signs and diagnosis}}</ref> It may have a rounded, pointed or flat top, and may have a [[umbilication|dip]].<ref name=Andrews2020/> It can appear with a [[Peduncle (anatomy)|stalk]], be thread-like or look [[wart]]y.<ref name="DermnetNZ"/> It can be soft or firm and its surface may be rough or smooth.<ref name=Andrews2020/> Some have [[Crust (dermatology)|crusts]] or [[Scale (dermatology)|scales]].<ref name=Andrews2020/> A papule can be flesh colored, yellow, white, brown, red, blue or purplish.<ref name=Dinulos2019>{{cite book |last1=Dinulos |first1=James G. H. |title=Habif's Clinical Dermatology |date=2019 |publisher=Elsevier |isbn=978-0-323-61269-2 |page=4 |edition=7th |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TvjCDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA4 |language=en |chapter=1. Principles of diagnosis and anatomy}}</ref> There may be just one or many, and they may occur irregularly in different parts of the body or appear in clusters.<ref name=Andrews2020/> It does not contain fluid but may progress to a [[pustule]] or [[vesicle (dermatology)|vesicle]].<ref name=Andrews2020/> A papule is smaller than a [[Nodule (medicine)|nodule]]; it can be as tiny as a pinhead and is typically less than 1&nbsp;cm in width, according to some sources,<ref name=Andrews2020/><ref name=DermnetNZ>{{cite web |last1=Oakley |first1=Amanda |title=Terminology in dermatology |url=https://dermnetnz.org/topics/terminology/ |website=dermnetnz.org |access-date=20 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref> and 0.5&nbsp;cm according to others.<ref name=Dinulos2019/> When merged together, it appears as a plaque.<ref name="Dinulos2019"/>

<!-- Differential diagnosis -->
A papule's colour might indicate its cause, such as white in [[Milium (dermatology)|milia]], red in [[eczema]], [[yellowish]] in [[xanthoma]] and black in [[melanoma]].<ref name=Andrews2020/> They may open when scratched and become infected and crusty.<ref name=Bolog2022>{{Cite book |last=Bolognia |first=Jean L. |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4QZSEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA4 |title=Dermatology Essentials |last2=Schaffer |first2=Julie V. |last3=Duncan |first3=Karynne O. |last4=Ko |first4=Christine |date=2022 |publisher=Elsevier |edition=2nd |isbn=978-0-323-70971-2 |language=en |chapter=1. Basics |pages=4-5}}</ref>

==Definition==
[[File:Papule and Plaque.svg|thumb|Papule and plaque]]
A papule is a small, well-defined bump in the [[skin lesion|skin]].<ref name=Andrews2020/> It is smaller than a [[Nodule (medicine)|nodule]]; it can be as tiny as a pinhead and is typically less than 1&nbsp;cm in width, according to some sources,<ref name=Andrews2020/><ref name="DermnetNZ"/> and 0.5&nbsp;cm according to others.<ref name="Dinulos2019"/>

==Evaluation==
A papule may have a rounded, pointed or flat top, and may have a dip.<ref name=Andrews2020/>  It can be polygonal but is never rectangular or square.<ref name=Allen2010>{{Cite book|last=Allen|first=Herbert B.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e-9Wifq-R4gC&q=Dermatology+Terminology|title=Dermatology Terminology|date=2010|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-1-84882-839-1|location=Philadelphia|pages=1–13|language=en|chapter=1. Papulosquamous diseases}}</ref> It can appear with a [[Peduncle (anatomy)|stalk]], be thread-like or look [[wart]]y.<ref name=DermnetNZ/> Ulceration, oozing, bleeding or thin blood vessels may be present in a papule.<ref name=Allen2010/> It can be soft or firm and its surface may be rough or smooth.<ref name=Andrews2020/> Some have [[Crust (dermatology)|crusts]] or [[Scale (dermatology)|scales]].<ref name=Andrews2020/> A papule can be flesh colored, yellow, white, brown, black, blue or purplish, or varying shades of red.<ref name=Dinulos2019/><ref name=Allen2010/> The intensity of redness might indicate how long the papule has been present.<ref name=Allen2010/> There may be just one or many, and they may occur irregularly in different parts of the body or appear in clusters.<ref name=Andrews2020/> It may progress to a pustule or vesicle.<ref name=Andrews2020/>

== Differential diagnosis ==
[[Angiofibroma]]s are papules, types of which include the usually solitary [[fibrous papule of the nose]] and [[Koenen's tumor|periungual angiofibroma]], and multiple in [[pearly penile papules]], and the [[adenoma sebaceum|facial angiofibromas]] as may be seen in [[tuberous sclerosis]].<ref name=Paller2020>{{cite book |last1=Paller |first1=Amy S. |last2=Mancini |first2=Anthony J. |title=Clinical Pediatric Dermatology: A Textbook of Skin Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence |date=2020 |publisher=Elsevier |location=St Louis, Missouri |isbn=978-0-323-54988-2 |page=251 |edition=6th |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H3UrEAAAQBAJ&dq=electrosurgery+pearly+penile&pg=PA251 |language=en |chapter=9. Cutaneous tumors and tumor syndromes}}</ref>

Papules with scale on the palms and soles may occur in [[secondary syphilis]], [[psoriasis]], [[eczema]], [[tinea manuum]], [[mycosis fungoides]].<ref name=Allen2010/> In [[lichen planus]] papules may be itchy, flat-topped, polygonal, purplish with white streaks, and can be solitary, or occur in clusters or in a line.<ref name=Allen2010/>

== See also ==
* [[List of cutaneous conditions]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Clinical and histological nomenclature for skin lesions}}

[[Category:Dermatologic terminology]]