CM: Making a Dx - Cutaneous Neoplasia

Question 1

What are the differences in melanocytes among different races?

Answer 1

same number, different activity w how much melanin produced

Question 2

What are the components of the epidermal-dermal jxn?

Answer 2

basal keratinocytes and hemidesmosomes
BM: lamina lucida and anchoring filaments, lamina densa - type IV collagen
sublamina densa and anchoring fibrils - type VII collagen

Question 3

What are the components of the dermis?

Answer 3

papillary - more superficial, smaller more eosinophilic tightly packed collagen bundles
reticular - loosely packed larger collagen bundles
hair follicles, nerves, blood vessels, sweat glands

Question 4

What is the glomus?

Answer 4

vascular structure in reticular dermis in pads of digits, nailbeds, face and ears
fxns in temp regulation and as AV shunt

Question 5

What are epidermal appendages found in the dermis?

Answer 5

folliculosebaceous unit: follicle is surface epithelium ensheathed by connective tissue, sebaceous gland is holocrine gland
eccrine glands - true sweat glands
apocrine glands - eyelids, ear, axilla, anogenital region
nail unit

Question 6

What are the components of the subcutaneous fat?

Answer 6

adipocytes

fibrous septa - fibroblasts and collagen, vessels, nerves

Question 7

How does the size of hair follicles differ in different parts of the body?

Answer 7

long extending to fat = scalp
face = shorter but larger sebaceous glands
palms and soles - no hair follicles

Question 8

What are the four S’s of a benign neoplasm and their malignant counterparts?

Answer 8

small, symmetrical, circumscribed, superficial

large, asymmetrical, infiltrative, deep

Question 9

How can actinic keratosis be recognized?

Answer 9

thick epidermis, downward proliferation of keratinocytes
some anaplastc cells
hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis

Question 10

A cutaneous horn suggests what?

Answer 10

SCC