Janeway lesion

Template:Short description Template:Infobox medical condition (new) Janeway lesions are rare, non-tender, small erythematous or haemorrhagic macular, papular or nodular lesions on the palms or soles only a few millimeters in diameter that are associated with infective endocarditis and often indistinguishable from Osler's nodes.<ref name=Parashar2022>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Definition

Janeway lesions are painless, frequently haemorrhagic lesions seen most commonly on the palms and soles, particularly on the base of the thumb and little finger, and seen in infective endocarditis.<ref name=DermnetNZ>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Differential

Osler's nodes and Janeway lesions are similar and point to the same diagnostic conclusion.<ref name=Parashar2022/> The most significant difference between the two is that Osler's nodes present with tenderness, while Janeway lesions do not.<ref name=Parashar2022/> Osler's nodes are thought to be due to immunologic phenomenon where deposition of immune complexes provoke inflammatory response, leading to swelling, redness and pain. On the contrary, Janeway lesions are thought to be due to embolic phenomenon in cutaneous blood vessels of palms and soles which does not cause pain or least pain.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Pathophysiology

Pathologically, the lesion is described to be a microabscess of the dermis with marked necrosis and inflammatory infiltrate not involving the epidermis.<ref name = "Farrior">Template:Cite journal</ref>

They are caused by septic emboli which deposit bacteria, forming microabscesses.<ref name="Mandell">Mandell, Douglas, Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 7th ed., Churchill Livingstone (2009).</ref> Organisms may be cultured from the lesions.<ref name=Patterson2016>Template:Cite book</ref>

Diagnosis

Janeway lesions present as red, painless macules and papules on the palms and soles.<ref name=DermnetNZ/>

They are not common and are frequently indistinguishable from Osler's nodes. Rarely, they have been reported in cases of systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE), gonococcemia (disseminated gonorrhoea), haemolytic anaemia and typhoid fever.<ref name=DermnetNZ/>

They may last days to weeks before completely resolving.<ref name=Parashar2022/>

History

Janeway lesions are named after Edward Janeway (1841–1911), a prominent American physician, pathologist and contemporary of Sir William Osler, who initially described "peculiar skin lesions" in some people with endocarditis, in a paper published in 1899. The term was first used by internist and pathologist Emanuel Libman, who reported the lesions in his paper of 1906 and explained his reasoning for using the term "Janeway lesions" in a footnote in 1923. Osler never mentioned Janeway lesions. The inclusion into Osler's 1925 textbook came six years after Osler died.<ref name=prutkin>Template:Cite journal</ref>

See also

• Roth's spots