A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps:
- General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body weight, height; further:
- Inspection (viewing) of the skin and mucous membranes.
- Skin [reddish-purple papules (nodules)?; these show surface reflection when light is incident from the side; whitish reticulation on papules (“Wickham’s pattern”)]
- Palms and soles [coarse, yellowish, hyperkeratotic (strongly keratinizing) plaques (areal or plate-like substance proliferation of the skin)?]
- Oral mucosa [symmetrical, reticular or nummular (“coin-shaped”) white plaques?, also disseminated (“scattered”), 0.1 cm white papules of the buccal mucosa and/or tongue or gingiva (oral mucosa)?]
- Inspection (viewing) of the skin and mucous membranes.
- Health check
Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.
