MS - Path (Pigmented & Common skin disorders)

Question 1

What are 3 examples of Pigmented skin disorders?

Answer 1

(1) Albinism (2) Melasma (cholasma) (3) Vitiligo

Question 2

What is albinism, and what typically causes it? What else may cause it?

Answer 2

Normal melanocyte number with decreased melanin production due to low tyrosinase activity or defective tyrosine transport. Can also be caused by failure of neural crest cell migration during development.

Question 3

What risk does albinism increase?

Answer 3

Increases risk of skin cancer

Question 4

What is another name for Melasma? What is it? With what 2 conditions/substances is it associated?

Answer 4

Melasma (Cholasma); Hyperpigmentation associated with pregnancy (“mask of pregnancy”) or OCP use

Question 5

What condition causes the “mask of pregnancy”?

Answer 5

Melasma (Cholasma)

Question 6

What is vitiligo? What causes it?

Answer 6

Irregular areas of complete depigmentation. Caused by autoimmune destruction of melanocytes.

Question 7

Name 8 common skin disorders.

Answer 7

(1) Verrucae (2) Melanocytic nevus (3) Urticaria (4) Ephelis (5) Atopic dermatitis (eczema) (6) Allergic contact dermatitis (7) Psoriasis (8) Seborrheic keratosis

Question 8

What is another name for Verrucae? What causes it?

Answer 8

Warts; caused by HPV

Question 9

What are 3 physical descriptions for Verrucae?

Answer 9

Soft, tan-colored, cauliflower-like papules

Question 10

What are 3 histologic findings that characterize Verrucae?

Answer 10

Epidermal hyperplasia, Hyperkaratosis, Koilocytosis

Question 11

What do verrucae form on genitals?

Answer 11

Condyloma acuminatum on genitals

Question 12

What is a melanocytic nevus? Is it benign or malignant? What is its relation to cancer, if any?

Answer 12

Common mole. Benign, but melanoma can arise if congenital or atypical moles

Question 13

What are 2 main types of nevi? What characterizes it?

Answer 13

(1) Intradermal nevi are papular (2) Junctional nevi are flat macules

Question 14

What is another name for urticaria? What defines it?

Answer 14

Hives; Pruritic wheals that form after mast cell degranulation

Question 15

What are 2 physical/pathophysiological changes associated with urticaria?

Answer 15

Characterized by superficial dermal edema and lymphatic channel dilation

Question 16

What is another name for Ephelis? What is normal versus changes in it?

Answer 16

Freckle. Normal number of melanocytes, increased melanin pigment

Question 17

What is another name for atopic dermatitis? What defines, and on what part of the body is it commonly found?

Answer 17

Atopic dermatitis (eczema); Pruritic eruption, commonly on skin flexures

Question 18

With what kind of conditions is atopic dermatitis (eczema) often associated?

Answer 18

Often associated with other atopic disease (asthma, allergic rhinitis)

Question 19

Where does atopic dermatitis usually start in infancy? Where does it often appear thereafter?

Answer 19

Usually starts on face in infancy and often appears in antecubital fossae thereafter

Question 20

What defines allergic contact dermatitis?

Answer 20

Type IV hypersensitivity reaction that follows exposure to allergen

Question 21

In general, where/how do allergic contact dermatitis lesions occur? Give 3 examples of causes.

Answer 21

Lesions occur at site of contact (e.g., nickel, poison ivy, neomycin)

Question 22

What are the defining physical signs characterize of psoriasis, and where on the body is it especially found?

Answer 22

Papules and plaques with silvery scaling, especially on knees and elbows.

Question 23

What are the key histological findings in psoarias?

Answer 23

Acanthosis with parakeratotic scaling (nuclei still in stratum corneum). Increased stratum spinosum, Decreased stratum granulosum.

Question 24

What is Auspitz sign, and with what condition is it associated?

Answer 24

Auspitz sign - pinpoint bleeding spots from exposure of dermal papillae when (Psoriasis) scales are scraped off; Psoriasis

Question 25

What are 2 conditions/additional physical findings associated with psoriasis?

Answer 25

Can be associated with nail pitting and psoriatic arthritis

Question 26

What defines Seborrheic keratosis? What is its characteristic appearance?

Answer 26

Flat, greasy, pigmented squamous epithelial proliferation with keratin-filled cysts (horn cysts). Looks “stuck on”

Question 27

What are 3 body parts where Seborrheic keratosis lesions occur?

Answer 27

Lesion occur on head, trunk, and extremities

Question 28

What is a common benign neoplasm of older persons?

Answer 28

Seborrheic keratosis

Question 29

What is Leser-Trelat sign, and what does it indicate?

Answer 29

Leser-Trelat sign - sudden appearance of multiple seborrheic keratoses, indicating an underlying malignancy (e.g., GI, lymphoid)