Skin Histopathology
Dermatopathology is the study of skin changes under the microscope. Diagnosis is done through the analysis of histological changes in the skin. Below are a few essential terms required to understand skin pathology.
Changes in the keratin of the skin, that leads to thickening of the uppermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum.
Found normally on mucous membranes, parakeratosis refers to the retention of nuclei in the uppermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum. This is seen in abnormal inflammatory skin processes, such as with psoriasis.
Often seen in disorders with associated pruritis (itch), there is evidence of hyperplasia of the stratum granulosum, which is found in the middle of the epidermal skin layers.
Referes to generalized hyperplasia of the epidermis.
Refers to changes in the dermis, where the dermal papillae become hyperplastic and enlarge, pushing the epidermis upwards.
This is abnormal skin development, which designates for example premature cell maturation.
Loss of the intercellular connections between keratinocytes.
Edema of the epidermis
Intracellular edema of keratinocytes. Swelling of cells, usually due retention of a hyperosmolar state, such as with viral infections.
Epidermal infiltration by inflammatory cells.
Epidermal breakage, however, not extending down past the basement membrane into the dermis.
Breakage, or loss of skin architecture, beyond the epidermal-dermal junction. May also involve the subcutaneous fat.
Formation of vacuoles, seen as clearings within the epidermis.
Linear spreading of melanocytes within the epidermis.