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Mnemonics, Simplified Concepts & Thoughts

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Mnemonics, Simplified Concepts & Thoughts

henrique durao

Some Mnemonics for Physical Examination

Dr. Henrique Durão, FCP (CMSA), Sep 18, 2019Sep 18, 2019

CAUSES OF­ INCREASED PIGMENTATION

S: Systemic sclerosis

H: Hemochromatosis 1*

A: Alkaptonuria

K: Kala azar

A: Arsenicosis

H: Hemochromatosis 2*

A: Addison’s

N: Nelson’s

D: Drugs

  • Amiodarone
  • Busulfan
  • Bleomycin
  • Phenytoin
  • Phenothiazine
  • Psoralen

SADDLE NOSE

S: Sarcoid, Syphilis congenital, Sponastrine dysplasia, Steward granuloma (extranodal NK/T lymphoma, EBV+), Stickler syndrome (chromos 12 mutation, short nose, & stature, submucous palatal cleft, myopisa and hearing loss, joint hypermobility)

A: Alpha L I idurinidase deficiency, Anticoagulation [Warfarin]

D: Dysplasia Otospondylo megaepiphyseal and Rhizomelic

D: Deletion 7p

L: Lowe syndrome

Et al: Wegener, Polychondritis, I cell disease, Rothmund Thomson, Cocaine abuse

LOOK at the MOUTH & remember what you can diagnose

M: Mallampati (OSA), Marfan, Macroglossia (Beckwith Wiedemann syndr.), M5 (Monocytic AML), Muir’s crackle (laryngeal crepitus), Micrognathia & Macrognathia, Miura Cooperman syndrome (retrusion of the mandible causing tongue uvula impingement)

O: Odor (bronchiectasis, lung abscess), OHL (oral hairy leukoplakia in HIV = EBV)

U: Ulcers, Uvula (Bifid: Loeyz Dietz syndrome, Pallister Hall syndrome)

T: Tongue, Tonsils, Teeth, Tardive dyskinesia, Trotter syndrome (nasopharyngeal ca with unilateral deafness, + Trigeminal nerve neuralgia)

H: Hypertrophic gums (ciclosporin, nifedipine, phenytoin, myelomonocytic leukemia, Wegener’s), HOCM (high arch palate, pes cavus, kyphoscoliosis), Heavy chain disease (Franklin g heavy chain, palatal edema), Hemorrhage (ITP, aplastic anemia), Hemorrhagic gingivitis (scurvy)

MOUTH ULCERS

  • Arthritis (Reiter syndrome), Aphthous ulcers, Appliances
  • Behcet’s disease, B12 deficiency, Burns
  • Crohn’s, Coeliac disease, Chickenpox, Cancer & Mucositis
  • Drugs: Brufen & NSAIDs, beta blockers, nicorandil, PTU, Alendronate, Cytotoxics & Diabetes
  • Erythema multiform, Epidermolysis bullosa
  • F” forget not: pemphigus vulgaris & pemphigoid, Febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet’s syndrome)
  • GPA (Wegener), GCA, PAN, & Glucagonoma
  • Hand Foot Mouth disease, HIV
  • Iron deficiency
  • Johnson (Stevens Johnson Syndrome SJS)
  • KO: Trauma
  • Lupus, Leishmaniasis, Lichen planus, Linear IgA disease (cluster of jewels, string of pearls)
henrique durao
Dr. Henrique Durão, FCP (CMSA)

Hard worker, Reliable, Team player, Family man.

MBChB (O’Porto Univ.), Dip HIV Man (CMSA), DTM&H (Wits), DipPEC (CMSA), Dip Internal Medicine (CMSA), M. Med. Clinical Pharm [Cum Laude] (Univ. Pretoria), FCP (CMSA)

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Durão H. Some Mnemonics for Physical Examination [Internet]. Epomedicine; 2019 Sep 18 [cited 2025 Dec 27]. Available from: https://epomedicine.com/medical-students/some-mnemonics-for-physical-examination/.

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