Specialty infectious disease | ICD-10 A41.8 (ILDS A41.820) | |
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Janeway lesions are non-tender, small erythematous or haemorrhagic macular or nodular lesions on the palms or soles only a few millimeters in diameter that are indicative of infective endocarditis.
Contents
Osler's nodes and Janeway lesions are similar, but Osler's nodes present with tenderness and are of immunologic origin.
Causes
Pathologically, the lesion is described to be a microabscess of the dermis with marked necrosis and inflammatory infiltrate not involving the epidermis. They are caused by septic emboli which deposit bacteria, forming microabscesses. Janeway lesions are distal, flat, ecchymotic, and painless.
Etymology
Janeway lesions are named after Edward Janeway (1841–1911), a prominent American physician and pathologist who initially described the lesions.