Dermatology

Dermatology

Version 2.0
Open Compact Source Code
The VB6 Code is included with the Compiled Version above

By Warren S. Goff DO
warrengoff@warrengoff.com
2-19-2012

This program is a learning tool, a diagnostic assistant and a therapeutic aid for Skin Diseases. It is based upon the classification system from "CURRENT Medical Dx & Tx > Chapter 6. Dermatologic Disorders" which divides skin lesions into:

Bullous, Erosive, Figurate (shaped) erythema, Morbilliform, Nodular, Cystic, Photodermatitis (Photodistributed Rashes), Pigmented, Pruritus, Pustular, Scaly, Ulcerated, Vesicular and Weepy or Encrusted AND Papular (Flesh-colored, umbilicated, Hyperkeratotic, Pearly, Purple-violet and Small, Red, Inflammatory).

In addition, Petechial, Purpura, Desquamative, Erythroderma, Systemic Causes
and Plaque Categories are added.

Multiple examples of each Dermatosis are provided. There is some overlap. Many of the images are from Wikicommons. In addition, images are derived from Google Images and other sources.

Since the program is entirely noncommercial and it is open source, I consider the use of these images a Fair Use under US copyright law. Links and references to all of the images are maintained throughout.

If anyone has an objection to the inclusion of any graphics or text within this program, it will be promptly removed.

You must accept the Disclaimer in order to use the program. Once accepted, this form will not display again.

The Opening Screen

One may Scroll Down the Dermatitis Categories.

Once a subcategory (Dematosis, eg. "blistering dactylitis") under the Category (eg. "Bullous") is chosen,
the specific entities may be studied, edited and augmented.

The Papular Category has Additional sub-Categories associated with it as well.

The lowest dropdown box (Search All") allows you to find and view any of the diagnostic dermatoses available.

Adding New images

You may drag and drop a jpg file to the picture box and it will be added to the
Dermatosis presently displayed (eg. "arthropod bites").

When a Dematosis is selected (eg. "arthropod bites"), you may copy (CTRL-C) any picture to the clipboard.
At this point, the Paste Button appears and, if clicked, the graphic will be
added to the presently displayed Dermatosis.

opens the graphic in Full Screen Mode for a magnified view.
In the Full Screen Mode, the Space Key or the Left Mouse Button goes forward.
The Backspace Key or the Right Mouse Button goes back.
Double clicking the Full Screen Image or hitting any other key
returns. to the main program

In the Full Screen View, striking the "z" key opens the Zoom Menu.

When the image is magnified one may Pan the image around the screen. Striking "z" again resets to the original view.
Likewise, selecting "No Zoom" from the Menu also resets the view as does "Fit".
A Custom magnification can be entered. "Exit" closes the full screen mode.

One can not scroll through the other images while in the zoom view using the left and
right mouse buttons although the keyboard options (Space & Backspace) will work.

You may generate a also.

The goes directly to the full-screen display without a diagnosis allowing you to test your skills.

The "Dx and Therapy" Button displays the text box below which will contain the information for the dermatosis (eg. "Cutaneous Larva Migrans").

The categories for the dermatosis are at the top of the file with a prefix "**". The provided information is, for the most part, extracted from Medscape Dermatology articles. The full article is provided as a pdf file also. This function is included to allow off-line use of the program. In addition, a link to the original article is provided.

One can edit this text and "Save" the changes. Be careful as changes can not be undone, although will open the saved text in your Default Editor (e.g. Notepad.)

The top line in the edited file can be a single link to a webpage. It must be in this format to work: "http://....."

If you select text (anywhere on your display including the text box) and copy it to the clipboard, the Google button appears.
By clicking it, the term(s) are searched with Google using the default Browser.

One may Add a New Dermatosis to whatever Category is selected in the top left Drop-Down Box on the Main
Window.

For example, measles is being added to the Annular Category. One should be cautious with this feature as the only way to delete changes is to manually edit the raw files at present.

If you input the name of a dermatosis that already exists in the databank, the Existing button is displayed. This allows you to add the dermatosis to another category. For example, "measles" was a dermatosis already in the database. By selecting a new category, I was able to add measles to "vesicular" and then to "ulcerative.

Otherwise, you MUST provide a Name for the Skin Lesion. You MUST drag an initial image file (jpg) to the ^Drop JPG^ Window and the caption will turn red (^Drop JPG^) with the image displayed. You MAY optionally drag and drop a pdf file to that ^Drop PDF^ Picture Window which becomes ^Drop PDF^ as well. You may add additional individual jpg and pdf files but only the last one added will be used. If you want to Associate more pdf files (etc.) with the dermatosis, see above.

Providing a Link is optional but advised. (It can be done manually through your editor-above) If a JPG has been added and a Title Dermatosis exists, the Add Dermatosis button will become enabled. Thereafter, one may access the New Skin Lesion from the Drop-Down Boxes and paste (or write) pertinent information into the Text Space and Save it under the "Dx and Therapy" section. You may provide a link at a later time by using also.

You may add any Associated file to the selected category including text, urls, pdf's and graphics.
They can be displayed using the Associated Button below.

Drag and drop a file onto the Label (eg. "arthropod bites") and it will be added to the Associated List. If the file is dragged from the Desktop, you will be given the option to copy it to the Associated Directory. Otherwise, all associated files are linked to their original locations on your hard drive.

If you right click on the Label (eg. "contact allergic dermatitis") this popup menu appears. You may copy the files associated with this specific dermatosis to the Associated Directory (off the Program Directory).

Likewise, you can also copy all of the associated files for all of the Categories to the Associated Directory.

Under the Dx and Therapy section, clicking the Associated button (above) displays this list:

Double Clicking any file displays it using the default application.
Cancel returns.

You may search through any files on your hard drive.
Both the file name and contents of the file can be searched.
Zip compressed files may also be searched.

The default search directory includes all of the text files (*.txt) associated with the categories. For example, by searching for "urticaria" in the Containing text: box, all of the files with urticaria mentioned are displayed on the right. Double clicking any file will open it in the default application.

Reference Materials

The Dermoscopy Button opens a menu providing a 2 step Classification Scheme and the reference article.
If the Dermoscopy directory exists, the last option will be visible.

The Dermatology directory button will only display if one has the specific folder available on your hard drive.

button displays a menu for microscopic processing of skin lesions. The methodology for performing a Potassium Hydroxide microscopic slide which is typically used to identify fungal elements as seen with the various Tineas is displayed as are the specifics of the Tzanck Smear for Herpes Viral identification.

General Therapies displays the Topical Therapies Table from "CURRENT Medical Dx & Tx > Chapter 6. Dermatologic Disorders.

The displays this Help file. It directs you to My Main Webpage (www.warrengoff.com) and the Online Help page.
It allows you to download the Compiled Version of the program and directs you to the Source Code. The source code is a shortened version of the compiled program due to space constraints.

You can open the Program Directory to manually edit the files.
(Be cautious as an error here might cause the program to stop functioning!!)

An additional Differential Diagnostic Algorithm is included. It is derived from the "Reference Article": PJ Lynch, SC Edminster. Dermatology for the Nondermatologist: A Problem-Oriented System. Ann Emerg Med. 1984;13:8(603-606). Tables are displayed with various additional categories and images.

A second Algorithm reference is also provided. References to the febrile patient with a rash and lesions of the nose are provided.

version 1.6
Open Compact Source Code
The VB6 Code is included with the Compiled Version above

By Warren S. Goff DO
warrengoff@warrengoff.com
3-21-2011