Pathology · single question
A patient has skin and intraoral ulcers; the lesions are UNILATERAL and characteristically do NOT cross the midline. The diagnosis is:
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Correct answer: B. Herpes zoster (reactivated varicella-zoster virus)
- A. Primary herpes is bilateral/diffuse with systemic prodrome, not dermatomal.
- B. Correct. Herpes zoster follows a dermatome and does not cross the midline.
- C. Aphthae are recurrent oral ulcers, not dermatomal skin vesicles.
- D. Erythema multiforme shows target lesions and crusted lips, not a strict dermatomal pattern.