chancre

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chancre

 [shang´ker]

1. the primary lesion of syphilis, occurring at the site of entry of the infection. Called also hard, hunterian, or true chancre.

2. a papular lesion occurring at the site of entry of infection in tuberculosis of the skin or in sporotrichosis.

A true chancre begins as a papule which breaks down into a reddish ulcer. It is generally firm and accompanied by little or no pain. Although most frequently located on the external genitalia, it may be on the lips or fingers. In women, a chancre is sometimes concealed in the internal genitalia where it may not be seen or felt. Two or three may develop simultaneously. A chancre heals of its own accord without treatment, thus leading many persons infected with syphilis to believe they are cured. They are not, and if adequate medical treatment is not begun at this early and curable stage of syphilis, the disease will progress, doing irreparable damage.

Chancre of primary syphilis. From Frazier et al., 2000.

Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

chan·cre

(shan'ker),

The primary lesion of syphilis, which begins at the site of cutaneous or mucosal infection after an interval of 10-30 days as a papule or area of infiltration, of dull red color, hard, and insensitive; the center usually becomes eroded or breaks down into an ulcer that heals slowly after 4-6 weeks. Finding Treponema pallidum on dark-field examination is diagnostic, except in oral ulcers, in which T. microdentium is normally present.

Synonym(s): hard chancre, hard sore, hard ulcer, hunterian chancre, syphilitic ulcer (1)

[Fr. indirectly from L. cancer]

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

chancre

(shăng′kər)

n.

1. A dull red, hard, insensitive lesion that is the first manifestation of syphilis.

2. An ulcer located at the initial point of entry of a pathogen.

---

chan′crous (-krəs) adj.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

chancre

STD The classic 1º skin lesion of syphilis, which consists of a painless 1–2 cm ulcer; the 1º chancre is highly contagious, contains zillions of spirochetes, and heals as a papule; chancres outside the vagina or on the scrotum render condoms useless in disease-preventing systems. See Kissing chancre, Syphilis.

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

chan·cre

(shang'kĕr)

The primary lesion of syphilis, which begins at the site of infection after an interval of 10-30 days as a papule or area of infiltration, of dull red color, hard, and insensitive; the center usually becomes eroded or breaks down into an ulcer that heals slowly after 4-6 weeks.
Synonym(s): hard chancre, hard ulcer.

[Fr. indirectly from L. cancer]

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012

chancre

The painless, hard-based primary sore of syphilis, which appears on the genitals within four weeks of exposure. It is a shallow ulcer with a base resembling wet wash-leather. This teems with the spirochaetes that cause the disease.

Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005

Chancre

The initial skin ulcer of primary syphilis, consisting of an open sore with a firm or hard base.

Mentioned in: Syphilis

Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

chan·cre

(shang'kĕr)

Primary lesion of syphilis. Finding Treponema pallidum on dark-field examination is diagnostic, except in oral ulcers, in which T. microdentium is normally present.

[Fr. indirectly from L. cancer]

Medical Dictionary for the Dental Professions © Farlex 2012