Skin Pathology Flashcards by Lauren Steinman

5 layers of the epidermis

Stratum Corneum, Lucidum, Granulosum, Spinosum, Basale

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Vitiglio

Michael Jackson, Irregular, completely
depigmented patches, genetic link. The affected areas
are devoid of melanocytes

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Melasma

Irregular blotchy patches of hyperpigmentation on the face Associated with oral contraceptive use & pregnancy
(“mask of pregnancy”)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Freckles (Ephelides)

Increased melanin deposition in the basal cell layer of the epidermis
• Normal number of melanocytes

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Benign lentigo

localized proliferation of melanocytes that appear. Linear melanocyte hyperplasia

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Nevocellular nevus (mole)

Benign tumor of melanocytes. Related to sun exposure. Sharp, well circumscribed borders
Tend to be stable in shape and size
Malignant transformation is rare

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

3 types of moles

junctional,

compound, and intradermal

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

dysplastic nevi (BK moles)

larger and irregular and may have pigment variation.exhibits cytological and architectural atypia.
Increased risk of melanoma

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Malignant melanoma

malignancy of melancotyes
Asymmetric, irregular borders, variegated color, large diameter, enlarging, macule, papule, or nodule
• Males: upper back
• Females: back and legs

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Lentigo Maligna Melanoma

Usually located on the face or neck of older individuals

• Best prognosis

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Superficial Spreading melanoma

Most common type of melanoma• Has a primarily horizontal growth pattern

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Acral lentiginous melanoma

Most common type of melanoma in dark skinned people
Affects palms, soles, and subungual
area. under NAILS

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Nodular Melanoma

Nodular tumor with a vertical growth pattern. Worst prognosis

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

melanoma prognosis

Staging is by depth of invasion (vertical growth)
• Breslow’s thickness
• Clark’s levels

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Melanoma Treatment

Wide surgical excision. chemotherapy or immunotherapy
(interferon)
• May even resolve spontaneously

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Acanthosis Nigricans

Thickened, hyperpigmented skin in the axillae and groin.

Obesity and diabetes

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Seborrheic Keratosis

Benign squamoproliferative neoplasm, granular “stuck on” appearance, keratin filled. Basaloid epidermal hyperplasia

Sign of Leser-Trelat (paraneoplastic syndrome): sudden development of multiple lesions may accompany an
underlying malignancy

Psoriasis

Autoimmune disorder accompanied by increased proliferation and turnover of epidermal keratinocytes.
psoriasis vulgaris most common. genetic. Knees, elbows,
and scalp. silvery scale and Auspitz sign: bleeding. nail bed changed

Psoriasis microscopic appearance

Epidermal hyperplasia (Acanthosis). Patchy Hyperkeratinization with parakeratosis. Uniform elongation and thickening of the rete 
ridges. Thinning of the epidermis over the dermal papillae. Munro microabscesses

Psoriasis treatment

Topical steroids and UV irradiation. Severe systemic disease may be treated with methotrexate

Pemphigus

Rare and potentially fatal autoimmune disorder that is
characterized by intraepidermal blister formation.
vulgaris is most common

Pemphigus pathogenesis

production of autoantibodies directed against a
part of the keratinocyte desmosome called desmoglein 3 results in loss of intercellular adhesions. Intraepidermal acantholysis is a hallmark feature. IgG

Bullous Pemphigoid

Relatively common autoimmune disorder of older individuals that is characterized by subepidermal blister formation.

Dermatitis Herpetiformis

Rare immune disorder that is often associated with celiac sprue and is characterized by subepidermal blister formation.
Production of IgA antibodies directed against
gliadin and other antigens that deposit in the
tips of the dermal papillae. IgA and GLUTEN FREE

Ichthyosis Vulgaris

Common inherited AD skin disorder that is characterized by a thickened stratum Corneum with nearly or completely absent stratum Granulosum palms, soles, and extensor areas

Xerosis

A common cause of pruritus and dry skin in the elderly that is due to decreased skin lipids

Eczema

Group of related inflammatory skin diseases characterized by pruritus. Acute: vesicular, erythematous rash Chronic:y dry, thickened hyperkeratotic skin Atopic dermatitis:IgE-mediated hypersensitivity

polymorphous light eruption

Most common form of photodermatosis and causes | erythematous macules, papules, plaques, or vesicles on exposure to sunlight

chronic cutaneous lupus erythematous

Causes epidermal atrophy with deposition of DNA-anti DNA immune complexes in the basement membrane of the epidermis. Nose and cheeks (“butterfly” rash)

Erythema Multiforme

A hypersensitivity skin reaction to infections (Mycoplasma pneumonia, herpes simplex) or drugs (sulfonamides, PCN, barbiturates, phenytoin) EM: vesicles, bullae, and “targetoid” erythematous lesions. Stevens-Johnson syndrome most severe EM

pityriasis rosea

Pruritic rash that starts with an oval-shaped “herald patch” and progresses to eruption of the trunk that produce a “Christmas tree” Herlad patch! benign. Caused by upper respiratory tract infection/ viral

Granuloma Annulare

Fairly rare. Chronic dermatological autoimmune condition which presents as reddish bumps on the skin arranged in a circle or ring autoimmune reaction that causes over-productive leukocytosis. More common in F, diabetes, thyroid, etc. Hands and feet

Erythema Nodosum

raised, erythematous, painful nodules of subcutaneous | adipose tissue. Anterior shins. Granulomatous disease and strep. 12-20 y/o. resolves

Epidermal Inculsion cyst

A common benign skin cyst lined with stratified | squamous epithelium and filled with keratin debris

squamous cell carcinoma

peak at 60. sun, fair skin, hydrocarbons, radtiations, burns, immunosupression, Xeroderma Pigmentosa

SCC Actinic Keratosis

precursor of SCC.Sun-induced dysplasia of the keratinocytes. Rough, red papules on the face, arms, and hands • Bowen disease: SCC in situ

SCC microscopic

Nests of atypical keratinocytes invade the dermis | • Formation of keratin pearls• desmosomes between tumor cells

SCC prognosis

Rarely metastasize. Complete excision is usually curative

Basal cell carcinoma

Most common tumor in adults in the Western world. Basal cells of hair follicles. Invasive nests of Basaloid cells with a palisading growth pattern.Pearly nodules with heaped translucent borders grows slowly. rare metastasis

Histiocytosis X (Langerhans)

Proliferation of Langerhans cells which are normally found within the epidermis Bierbeck granules. Tennis rackets

3 Types of histiocytosis C

Unifocal (eosinophilic granuloma) Multifocal (Hand-Schuller-Christian disease). Acute disseminated (Letterer-Siwe syndrome)