Approach to the hospitalized patient with targetoid lesions

Abstract

Approaching the hospitalized patient with skin disease can be daunting. This article focuses on a practical approach to the patient with targetoid lesions. The discussion focuses on differentiating erythema multiforme from Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. In addition, the article offers a concise review of the broader differential diagnosis of targetoid lesions including ecthyma gangrenosum, fixed drug eruption, erythema multiforme-like drug reaction, vasculitis, acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy, erythema chronicum migrans, connective tissue diseases, and blistering diseases.