Additional Examination Methods In Dermatology Flashcards
What are the basic diagnostic way of dermatology
History –> clinical examination -> additional examinations –> diagnosis
What are the most important additional diagnostic methods in dermatology
Skin scraping, biopsy and cytology most imp
- knowing the indication, method, evaluation of result
What can we examine in dermatology
parasites, bacteria, fungi
hair, skin
Other organs
(immune-, hormonal system)
What methods can we use to examine the skin for the physical exam
inspection / palpation / smelling / percussion
Name the additional examinations we can do
- flea comb / Wood-lamp / Otoscopy
- skin scraping + pluged hairshuft sending to laboratory
(Microscopy, microbiology, sterike swabs, cytology) - cytology (impression/swab, ear/cytobrush smear, FNA, scraping, biopsy, scotch tape)
- biopsy sampling
- allergy tests
- blood tests
- immunological tests
–> (histopathology: immunfluorescency, immunhistochemistry)
(Urine)
What additional method would you do in suspicion of fleas
Flea comb and flotation! Comb, on paper Flea dirt: digested blood If few - hard to find, they are fast! Cat: self cleaning away feces, may not find. If suscpision - treat!
What is a woodlamp used for
Nanometer light: ringworm flourescence (not specific, sensitive) but may help to guide you in direction of ringworms!
Why are gloves important to use in derma investigations!
Gloves - zoonotic skin diseasaes! Scabies, cayletiella, fungi, ringworm; microspora trichomonas …
Bacteria: staphylococci, pseudomonas - Multiresistant strains! MRSA
Why is a camera used during examinations?
Take pictures!
Compairing first with second (control) examination - change, what hasnt changed
Asking help from collegues - owner see everyday - hard to see changes
How do we approach sampling and sending samples to a lab?
Ask: what type of sample is needed for the given examination to not have to do it again if use wrong tube.
Ordering/ buying of the sampling instruments of the given laboratory (sterile swabs/ tubes with test medium/ solutions for biopsy sampling etc.)
Accompanying documents and sample labeling to avoid mixing!
How do we approach sampling for own examinations
If we’ got microscope – Skin scraping (Paraffin oil on skin surface to get more str corneaum, parasites etc. If send to lab to culture, microbio etc dont do this!!) – trichogram (eval of hair roots) – Cytology Instruments and materials – Scalpel blade, glass slide – Paraffinoil – Diff-Quick for staining – Immersion oil
What do we have to remember before performing a sample and evaluating it?
Appropiate method
– For example: if only superficial skin
scrape was taken - Cannot find demodex - live deep in follicle
- For example: if we are looking for
Sarcoptes mites - Not in lesion - run far away - scrape sample may not find any in scraping
Correct evaluation of the results
– the possibility of finding Demodex mites is less, we will have only 10-50% possibility of finding them even if we took the sample really from huge region
- Compairing the finding to lesion - eg staph aureus (normal skin flora) but no pyoderma - can negl this result
What is the method for skin scraping (for microscopic evaluation and culturing)
We should do all if have no idea of whats going on.
– Superficial (str. Corneum) / deep (Untll first amount of blood is seen - small erosion is made)
pushing out of hair follicle / pulling out hair shufts (trichogram) (If see anything filling the follicles
Also pull out hair shaft on border of healthy and skin lesion part - most fresh, most infected part)
– Huge surface / many region / border of the lesion and healthy skin (Sarcopes - fast)
– Crusts are not needed but sampling from the str. corneum (feline demodex(other demodex live in hair follicles), Ringworm - dermatophytosis
Can live on str. Corneum or they can live on hair shaft
–> need sample from both! Take sample beneath crust formation in str corneum!!!!
How do we evaluate the skin scraping (for microscopic evaluation and culturing)
– Sensitive method for ectoparasites, except Sarcoptes mites
– Bacterial culture: the antibiotic resistance is important
– Fungal culture: the only sure method for proving Dermatophytosis (Scrape + culture is the basis of diagnosis of ringworm! (PCR yes, suscpicion woodlamp no diagnosis)
What are the basic materials for own and lab sampling
Lab - swab etc. sample in sterile syringe
Own exam: slide, paraffin oil