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Acral – Meaning, Symptoms and Conditions

Acral is a medical term referring to the peripheral body extremities, including the hands, feet, fingers, toes, and nose. It is commonly used to describe symptoms or findings in these specific body regions.

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Things worth knowing about "Acral"

Acral is a medical term referring to the peripheral body extremities, including the hands, feet, fingers, toes, and nose. It is commonly used to describe symptoms or findings in these specific body regions.

What does acral mean?

Acral is a medical term derived from the Greek word akron, meaning tip or extremity. It refers to anything involving the distal (outermost) parts of the body – specifically the hands, feet, fingers, toes, and sometimes the nose and ears. These body regions are collectively referred to as the acra.

Medical significance

The term acral is used across many medical specialties to describe symptoms, findings, or conditions that occur specifically at the ends of the limbs. It enables physicians to communicate the precise location of a clinical finding efficiently and accurately.

Common examples of acral terminology

Acral cyanosis: Bluish discoloration of the fingertips and toes caused by reduced blood flow or oxygen supply.
Acral lentiginous melanoma: A distinct form of skin cancer occurring on the palms, soles, or under the nails.
Acral paresthesia: Tingling, numbness, or abnormal sensations in the hands and feet, often associated with nerve disorders.
Acral circulatory disorders: Reduced blood supply to the extremities, as seen in Raynaud syndrome.

Common conditions with acral symptoms

Many medical conditions manifest primarily or exclusively at the acra. These include:

Raynaud syndrome: Episodes of reduced blood flow causing color changes (white, blue, red) in the fingers and toes.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD): Narrowing of blood vessels leading to pain and coldness in the feet.
Diabetic polyneuropathy: Nerve damage caused by diabetes mellitus, presenting as tingling or numbness in the feet and hands.
Erythromelalgia: Painful redness and warmth of the acra due to dilated blood vessels.
Acromegaly: A hormonal condition causing enlargement of the acra (hands, feet, nose, chin) due to excess growth hormone production.

Diagnosis of acral findings

Various diagnostic methods are available to evaluate conditions presenting with acral symptoms:

Physical examination and visual inspection of affected regions
Doppler ultrasound to assess blood flow
Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) testing when neuropathy is suspected
Laboratory tests (e.g., blood glucose, thyroid levels, autoantibodies)
Dermoscopy for skin changes located on the acra

When to see a doctor

Symptoms affecting the acra should be evaluated by a physician if they are persistent, painful, changing in appearance, or accompanied by other complaints. In particular, discoloration, numbness, poorly healing wounds, or newly appearing skin changes on the hands or feet should be assessed promptly.

References

Pschyrembel Clinical Dictionary. 268th edition. De Gruyter, Berlin 2020.
Herold, G. et al.: Internal Medicine. Self-published, Cologne 2023.
World Health Organization (WHO): International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). Available at: https://icd.who.int

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