Histopath-Jager-Ch2: General Reactions of the Skin to Injury Flashcards
What is epidermal hyperplasia?
Increase in the number of nucleated cells
How many nucleated layers thick is a normal epidermis in the dog and cat?
No more than 2 layers thick
What is acanthosis?
Hyperplasia of stratum spinosum
What are rete ridges?
Folds of epidermis from increased thickening of stratum spinosum, which penetrate into the superficial dermis.
Which body locations have rete ridges normally?
Footpads, nasal planum, and scrotal skin (lesser extent)
T/F Epidermal hyperplasia indicates chronic lesions.
False. Can be seen as early as 36-48 hours after superficial traumatic injury.
What are the 4 types of epidermal hyperplasia? Which is the most common?
Irregular epidermal hyperplasia (most common) Regular epidermal hyperplasia Papillated epidermal hyperplasia Pseudocarcinomatous epidermal hyperplasia
What is irregular epidermal hyperplasia?
Hyperplastic changes in which the rete ridges formed are uneven in shape and height. Most common form.
What is regular epidermal hyperplasia?
Even width and depth. Tips may be club shaped. Uncommon. May point towards specific diseases (ex lichenoid psoriasiform dermatosis of springer spaniels).
What is papillated epidermal hyperplasia?
Digitate projections of the epidermis, as in warts or papillomas. Also seen with seborrheic dermatitis and callosities.
What is pseudocarcinomatous epidermal hyperplasia?
Extreme, irregular epidermal hyperplasia. Branched and fused rete ridges have superficial resemblance to invasive SCC. May have numerous mitotic figures, but does not demonstrate atypia of malignant cells. No invasion through BMZ. Seen at border of chronic ulcers and overlying various suppurative, granulomatous or neoplastic processes.
What is hypergranulosis?
Increase in width of stratum granulosum
What is orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis?
Increased thickness of stratum corneum. Represents either increase in production of keratin or decrease in normal attrition of cornified layer.
How many layers should you be able to see in a normal stratum corneum on H&E staining?
7-10 layers.
What types of diseases should you consider if you see orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis in the absence of acanthosis?
Disorders of keratinization, corneocyte adhesion or endocrine-related dermatoses.
What are the three major types of orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis?
Basket-weave
Compact
Laminated
What is basket-weave orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis?
Excess of normal type of keratin. Typical of endocrine, primary seborrhea and dermatophytosis
What is compact hyperkeratosis?
Normally found only on areas of the body where there is likely to be wear and tear, such as the footpads. The normal basket-weave keratin may be replaced with the more protective compact keratin when the skin surface is subjected to chronic low-grade trauma, such as persistent licking.
What is laminated orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis?
Seen in few diseases of abnormal keratinization. Ex. ichthyosis.
What is parakeratotic hyperkeratosis?
Thickened stratum corneum in which the nuclei of ther keratinocytes are retained.
Indicates failure of normal epidermal differentiation.
Ex. zinc-responsive dermatoses, thallium toxicosis, superficial necrolytic dematitis, lethal acrodermatitis of bull terriers and some seborrheic diseases (Malassezia dermatitis)
What is dyskeratosis?
Premature keratinization of cells of stratum spinosum.
Hypereosinophilic cytoplasm, degenerative changes to nucleus.
Dyskeratosis can be difficult to distinguish between which other keratinocyte abnormality?
What can help you differentiate between the two?
Apotosis.
Dyskeratosis seen more often in conjunction with diffuse parakeratosis (altered epidermal differentiation).
Apoptosis seem more often in conjunction with hydropic interface dermatitis or satellitosis.
What diseases could be suspected with dyskeratosis?
Zinc-responsive disease, some vit A dermatoses, some epidermal neoplasms (esp SCC)
What is spongiosis?
Intercellular edema in the epidermis
Describe epidermal pallor.
What two conditions does this finding make you suspicious for?
Edema, typically within stratum spinosum.
Swollen cells with very pale eosinophilic cytoplasm.
May see peripherally displaced nucleus.
Seen with zinc-related disorders and is characteristic to hepatocutaneous syndrome.
What term would you use for pale-staining, swollen keratinocytes in pox viral infections in several species?
Ballooning degeneration.
What is hydropic degeneration? Where would it be found?
Intracellular edema with presence of one or more clear vacuoles within cytoplasm. Usually restricted to cells of the stratum basale of epidermis and outer root sheath of follicle.
In which diseases is hydropic degeneration commonly seen?
Lupus erythematosus, lichenoid dermatoses, drug eruption, dermatomyositis
What are some consequences of epidermal edema?
- Spongiosis often leads to the formation of spongiform vesicles
- Intracelllular edema may lead to reticular degeneration and formation of multilocular vesicles
- Hydropic degeneration may lead to formation of intra- and subepidermal clefts or vesicles
How do you differentiate between microvesicles, vesicles, and bullae?
Microvesicles - inapparent to naked eye
Vesicle <1cm
Bulla >1cm