Pathology · single question
Clinical case: patient with a blue macule on the labial or buccal mucosa that BLANCHES with compression. Diagnosis:
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Correct answer: A. Varix (venous varicosity)
- A. Correct. A blue/purple lesion that blanches with compression indicates a vascular lesion containing blood that can be displaced — characteristic of a varix.
- B. An amalgam tattoo does NOT blanch with pressure, since it's caused by embedded metal particles rather than blood.
- C. Melanoma is pigment-based (melanin), not blood-filled, and does not blanch with pressure; it also presents with more concerning features.
- D. A melanocytic nevus is also pigment-based and does not blanch with pressure.