pachyderma

9.9

An area of skin that becomes very thick and swollen because lymph vessels are blocked

noun
/ˌpækɪˈdɜrmə/

Specialized

: pachyderma

The patient was diagnosed with pachyderma after presenting with severe skin thickening on her leg.

Examples

Doctors noted that the pachyderma affected only one extremity, which helped determine the underlying cause.
Some cases of pachyderma can be treated with surgery.
Pachyderma is often associated with chronic lymphatic obstruction and may require specialized treatment.
The patient was diagnosed with pachyderma after extensive testing.
Doctors observed that the pachyderma caused significant thickening of the skin on her arm.
The dermatologist explained that pachyderma can result from congenital issues affecting the lymphatic system.
After reviewing the symptoms, the specialist confirmed the diagnosis of pachyderma due to lymph vessel obstruction.

Synonyms

nevoid elephantiasis

vspachyderma

Specialized

9.9

A birth condition causing one arm or leg to swell and skin to thicken when lymph vessels are blocked

is a broader abnormal skin thickening not limited to one side or limb

Antonyms

normal

∞ 1.0

Usual or expected in most situations

How Thick

elephantiasis

Specialized

1 9.9

pachyderma

Specialized

9.9

induration

Specialized

9.9

thickening

4 4.6

Surface Forms

pachyderma singular

pachydermas plural

Morphology

pachyderma = derma (semi-transparent) = pachy + derma + pachy

The formation is a direct combination of Greek combining forms pachy- ('thick') + -derma ('skin'), but both elements are technical/medical and unfamiliar to average learners.

Etymology

Pachyderma comes from the Greek parts pachy- meaning 'thick' and derma meaning 'skin'. It shares pachy- with pachyderm, a word for animals like elephants that have very thick skin, so pachyderma describes a condition where the skin has become unusually thick.