Topic module

Autoimmune, Systemic and Malignant Skin Disease

Connect skin signs to systemic disease and distinguish benign lesions from urgent malignant or autoimmune patterns.

Long-form learning

Concept to Risk to Memory to Check-up

Use the official likely question distribution to plan breadth, then connect mechanisms, patterns and investigations to one most appropriate answer.

Core concepts

Concept 1

Skin findings can be the first sign of connective-tissue, endocrine, vascular or malignant disease.

Exam cue: Look beyond the skin when the pattern is systemic.

Concept 2

Lesion change, ulceration and non-healing features guide cancer suspicion and referral.

Exam cue: Use change and behaviour, not colour alone, to judge risk.

Risk pitfalls and guardrails

Treating a systemic marker as disease without phenotype.

Guardrail: Do not select an option merely because it is true; choose the one that best answers the exact stem and fits the full pattern.

Delaying referral for a changing or non-healing lesion.

Guardrail: Do not select an option merely because it is true; choose the one that best answers the exact stem and fits the full pattern.

Memory anchors

What makes a pigmented lesion concerning?

Asymmetry, border or colour irregularity, evolution and symptoms such as bleeding.

What suggests non-melanoma skin cancer?

Persistent keratotic, ulcerated, pearly or non-healing change in a risk context.

How can connective-tissue disease affect skin?

Through photosensitive, vascular, inflammatory, fibrosing or vasculitic patterns.

What is the role of biopsy?

Confirm or classify disease when the result changes management; choose the appropriate lesion and technique.

What belongs in dermatology follow-up?

Treatment response, adverse effects, systemic involvement, recurrence and cancer surveillance when relevant.

Checkpoint rule

Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.

Knowledge Check (after reading)

Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.

1-2 question checkpoint

A 74-year-old man develops tense pruritic bullae on normal and erythematous skin. Oral mucosa is spared. What is the most likely diagnosis?

A 52-year-old woman has painful oral erosions followed by fragile flaccid blisters. Gentle pressure extends the blister. What is the diagnosis?

Answer all questions to submit.

Next step personalized recommendations

Move forward only after this module is stable.

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