Adult Photosensitivity Disorders

Practice Question Answers

1. A 50-year-old woman with a history of alcoholism and new-onset diarrhea developed a painful, scaly, erythematous, and hyperpigmented eruption on the photoexposed areas on the chest and hands. A similar presentation can occur in patients on which medications?

a. azathioprine

b. fluorouracil

c. pyrazinamide

d. A and C only

e. all of the above

2. A college student presents with a streaky blistering rash on the arms and legs. He is on summer vacation and recently started a side job of mowing lawns. This phototoxic eruption requires which light spectrum?

a. 200–290 nm

b. 290–315 nm

c. 315–400 nm

d. 400–700 nm

e. none of the above

3. A middle-aged man with psoriasis complains of new onset of redness of the hands and face that occurs within hours of going outside. The patient may be taking which medications?

a. doxepin

b. NSAIDS

c. tar shampoo

d. terbinafine

e. A, B, and C

f. B, C, and D

4. A patient with metastatic melanoma was just started on vemurafenib. Which side effect is most likely to occur from this medication?

a. cough

b. myalgia

c. panniculitis

d. photosensitivity

e. squamous cell carcinoma

5. A 30-year-old black woman reports an itchy, flesh-colored, bumpy rash on the extensor forearms that appears 24 hours after sun exposure. There was no prior exposure to systemic or topical photoallergens. Which of the following is false regarding this condition?

a. classified as a type IV hypersensitivity reaction

b. condition improves with subsequent exposures (hardening)

c. histology is characterized by mucin deposition

d. rash is generally nonscarring

e. similar reaction localized to the helices may occur in adolescent boys