Commonly Used descriptive terms in dermatopathology, and their diagnostic significance

1. Commonly Used
descriptive terms in
dermatopathology,
and their
diagnostic
significance

2. Acantholysis
Loss of cohesion between
keratinocytes due to
breakdown of intercellular
bridges .
Results in the formation of
clefts,vesicles and bullae.
Involves the full thickness of
the epidermis.

3. Primary Acantholysis
Diseases that have Primary acantholysis include :
-Pemphigus foliaceus (upper epidermis involment)
-Pemphigus erythmatosis
-Pemphigus vulgaris (Lower epidermis)
-Hailey Hailey Disease
-Darier disease
-Warty dyskeratoma

4. Secondary
Acantholysis
Acantholysis may also happen
secondary to some other pathological
change e.g in bullous impetigo
viral disorder
Solar keratosis
Squamous cell carcinoma,

5. Acanthosis
An Increase in the number of
cells in malpigian and Prickle
layers of the epidermis
Pseudoacanthosis= enlarged
keratinocytes
True Acanthosis= Increase in
number of cells

6. Acanthosis
Inflammatory conditions like
Persistent friction, Lichenification
Prurigo, eczema, Psoriasis and
Lichen planus

7. Acanthosis
Conditions associated with
loss of keratinocytes such as
Darier Disease and
pemphigus group have
acanthosis as their clinical
feature

8. Acanthosis
Secondary conditions with the
presence of foreign cells in
the epidermis e.g Melanoma,
Paget's disease, Mycosis
fungoides, and Langerhans
cell histiocytosis

9. Acanthosis
Abnormalities in dermis leads
to acanthosis in the epidermis
above it e.g Fibrous
histiocytoma and granular cell
tumour

10. Acanthosis
Infections like lupes vulgaris and blastomycosis display acanthosis

11. Acanthosis
It is also associated with chronic edemas such as chronic lymphedema of the
lower limb and myxedema

12. Anaplasia
This term defines variations in
nuclear size , dense and
clumped heterochromatin, and
nuclear contour angulation
typical of malignant cells as in
metastatic melanoma.

13. Apoptosis
This is described as a Programmed
cell death .e.g
Lichenoid Tissue reactions
Due to UV light exposure in GVHD
Lupus Erythematosis

14. Basal Lamina
Basement membrane is submicroscopic about 40 nm in thickness
Not visible with light microscope
Proteins of BM are important on epidermolysis bullosa and autoimmune blistering
diseases as well

15. Bullae
Fluid containing cavities within or
below the epidermis
Intraepidermal Bullae may arise as a
result of spongiosis as in acute
Eczema
While in Erythema Multiforme both
subepidermal and intraepidermal
factors seem to be involved in the
formation of bullae

16. Colloid Body
Synonymous with the Cavite
body describes the
eosinophilic round body
resulting from death of the
keratinocytes
This structure is involved in
the Lichenoid tissue reactions
and also apoptosis

17. Crust
Collection of Inflammatory
cells ,RBCs, plasma and
fibrin in the superficial layer of
the epidermis
A crust may have
microorganisms and often
replaces partial or total loss of
epidermis itself

18. Curlicue
(Storiform)
pattern
This term Refers to the twisting
and curving the dermal
fibrohistiocytic cells around
collagen bundles often at margins
of dermal tumour
This pattern is describes often in
Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans

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