What percentage of body surface area (BSA) sloughing defines TEN?

Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) is defined by the extent of skin involvement, specifically the percentage of body surface area (BSA) that shows sloughing. The criterion for diagnosing TEN is the involvement of more than 30% of the BSA. This is an important threshold as it helps differentiate TEN from Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), which affects a smaller percentage of the body surface area.

In TEN, the extensive detachment of the epidermis can lead to life-threatening complications, including infections and fluid loss. Understanding the critical cutoff points for these conditions is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment approaches. The fact that TEN involves a greater extent of BSA sloughing underscores its severity and the need for urgent medical intervention. Thus, the correct percentage that defines TEN is indeed 30%.