Skin Pathology Flashcards
What is the epidermis composed of and what are the 4 layers?
Comprised of keratinocytes
- Stratum basalis (basal): regenerative (stem cell) layer; to make new epidermis
- Stratum spinosum: characterized by desmosomes between keratinocytes (tightly connects cells; spinous processes)
- Stratum granulosum: characterized by granules in keratinocytes
- Stratum corneum: characterized by keratin in anucleate cells (top layer)
What does the dermis consist of?
- Connective tissue,
- nerve endings
- blood and lymphatic vessels
- adnexal structures (e.g. hair shafts, sweat glands and sebaceous glands)
What are five inflammatory dermatoses conditions?
- Atopic (eczematous) dermatitis
- Contact dermatitis
- Acne Vulgaris
- Psoriasis
- Lichen Planus
- Characteristics of Atopic (Eczematous) Dermatitis?
- Where is it usually on body?
- Pruritic (itchy), erythematous, oozing rash, blistering vesicles and edema;
- often involves face and flexor surfaces
Characteristics of Contact Dermatitis?
Pruritic, erythematous, oozing rash with vesicles and edema (similar to atopic dermatitis)
How does contact dermatitis arise? Tx?
upon exposure to allergens such as:
- poison ivy and nickel jewelry (type IV hypersensitivity reaction; delayed cell mediated )
- Irritant chemicals (e.g. detergents)
- Drugs (penicillin)
- remove offending agent and topical glucocorticoids as needed
How does acute contact dermatitis differ from urticaria?
- Urticaria:
- edema is restricted to superficial dermis
- Acute contact dermatitis
- edema seeps into the intercellular spaces of the epidermis splaying apart keratinocytes
- Mechanical shearing of intercellular attachment sites (desmosomes) causing formation of intraepidermal vesicles
Photoeczematous Dermatitis? Cause what on skin?
- Photochemical reaction due to contact with a plant chemical and sun exposure
- Cause bizarre streaky pattern of blisters on sun exposed skin
- spontaneous resolution leaving long term hyperpigmentation
Acne Vulgaris is characterized by?
- Comedones (whiteheads and blackheads),
- pustules (pimples)
- nodules (scars)
Acne vulgaris is caused by? How are comedones formed
- Chronic inflammation of hair follicles and associated sebaceous glands
- Increase hormone=increase sebum production
- Excess keratin blocks follicles resulting in buildup
- Propionibacterium acnes produce lipases that break down sebum, create inflammation (comedones)
- Characteristics on skin of Psoriasis?
- Usually found where on body?
- Well circumscribed, salmon colored plaques with silvery scale scaly patches
- on knees, scalp, lower back, penis
- pitting of nails may also be present
What is Psoriasis due to? Associated with?
- Due to excessive keratinocyte proliferation with a possible autoimmune basis
- Associated with HLA-C
- Lesions often arise in areas of trauma (environmental trigger)
Histology of Psoriasis shows what four features?
- Acanthosis (epidermal hyperplasia)
- Parakeratosis: hyperkeratosis with retention of keratinocyte nuclei in the stratum cornea= silvery scale)
- Munro microabscesses: Collection of neutrophils in the stratum cornea
- Thinning of the epidermis above elongated dermal papillae–> results in pin point bleeding when scale is peeled off (Ausptiz sign)
What is Koebner phenomenon?
local trauma producing psoriatic like lesions
Psoriasis has interactions between what cells? What does this produce?
- Complex interactions between CD4+ T cells, CD 8+ T cells, dendritic cells and keratinocytes
- Give rise to cytokine soup (e.g. TNF)
Treatment of Psoriasis?
- Block TNF function (immunomodulant)
- corticosteroids
- UVA light with drug psoralen (PUVA) to damage keratinocytes
Guttate Psoriasis (associated with what in young people)? Pustular Psoriasis
- Guttate psoriasis: Lesions appear as multiple small, red, raised, scaly patches usually all over trunk (* in young people following a strep throat infection)
- Pustular psoriasis: widespread area of pustules over trunk and limb (accumulation of neutrophils present directly beneath stratum corneum)—> fever and joint pain and may be life threatening
Lichen Planus is characterized by (6 P’s)? Found where on body?
- Pruritic (itchy)
- planar (flat)
- polygonal
- purple
- papules
- plaques often with reticular white lines on their surface (Wickham striae- created by areas of hypergranulosis)
- Commonly involve wrists, elbows and oral mucosa
Oral lesions of Lichen planus that persist for years are associated with?
Future probable oral squamous cell carcinoma
Histology of Lichen Planus shows?
Inflammation of the dermal-epidermal junction with a “saw tooth” appearance.
In pemphigus vulgaris autoantibodies are against? Cause blisters where?
Desmogleins 1 and 3 (dsg 1 and 3)
TYPE II HYPERSENSITIVITY cause blisters in the deep suprabasal epidermis
In pemphigus foliaceus autoantibodies are against?
only Dsg 1
- lead to superficial subcorneal blister formation at the level of the lamina lucida of the basement membrane
- How does Pemphigus vulgaris present as?
- where is it seen on the body?
- Skin and oral mucosa bullae
- Acantholysis (separation) of stratum spinosum keratinocytes (from Dsg1 and 3)
- Results in suprabasal blisters
What does histology of pemphigus vulgaris show?
- Basal layer cells remain attached to basement membrane via hemidesmosomes (autoantibodies against desmoglein only)
- create “tombstone” appearance
Bullous Pemphigoid is autoimmune destruction of?
- hemidesmosomes between basal cells and the underlying basement membrane
- Due to IgG antibody against hemidesmosome component (BP180) of the basement membrane
What does Bullous Pemphigoid present as? Who does it typically affect?
- Blister between epidermis and dermis
- Usually seen in elderly
- Basal cell layers is detached from basement membrane
Immunofluorescence highlights what pattern in Bullous Pemphigoid?
IgG along basement membrane in a linear pattern
Dermatitis herpetiformis is due to?
- autoimmune deposition of IgA at the tips of dermal papillae
- antibodies cross react with reticulin
- component of the anchoring fibrils that tether the epidermal basement membrane to superficial dermis
What does Dermatitis herpetiformis present as? Where on the body?
- Pruritic vesicles and bullae (very itchy!)
- associated with the accumulation of nuetrophils (microabscesses) at the tips of dermal papillae
- grouped blisters on localized symmetrical extensor sites (elbows, knees)
What is dermatitis herpetiformis associated with?
Celiac’s disease; resolves with a gluten free diet
- Epidermolysis Bullosa is a blanket term for?
- Common feature?
- Group of disorders caused by inherited defects in structural proteins that lend mechanical stability to the skin
-
Common feature
- form blisters at sites of pressure, rubbing or trauma, at or soon after birth
Porphyria refers to?
A group of uncommon inbron or acquired disturbances of prophyrin metabolism porphyrin= pigment normally present in heme/myoglobin and cytochromes
Erythema multiform is what type of reaction? Characterized by?
- Hypersensitivity reaction
- characterized by targetoid rash and bullae
- Targetoid appearance is due to central epidermal necrosis surrounded by erythema
What is Erythema multiforme (EM) most commonly associated with? Other associations?
- HSV infection
- also associated with:
- Mycoplasma infection
- drugs (penicillin, sulfanomides)
- autoimmune disease (SLE)
- malignancy
Erythema Multiforme with oral mucosa/lip involvement and fever is termed?
Stevens- Johnson syndrome (SJS)
Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a severe form of SJS characterized by diffuse sloughing of skin, resembling a large burn most often due to adverse drug effect
- Granuloma annulare is characterized by what kind of lesions?
- Associated with?
- Benign self-limited dermatosis (hands and legs)
- characterized by raised annular lesions
- associated with morphea, chronic Hep C infection, autoimmune thryoiditis
- Characteristic of Verruca (warts)?
- Association with?
- Common location?
- Flesh colored papules with a rough surface (raised)
- Hands and feet are common location
- Associated with HPV infection of keratinocytes
- Characteristic of Molluscum Contagiosum?
- Due to?
- What do affected keratinocytes show?
- Firm, pink, umbilicated papules
- due to poxvirus
- Hallmark*: affected keratinocytes show cytoplasmic inclusions (molluscum bodies)
Impetigo is infection most often due to which bacteria?
-
S. aureus or S. pyrogens
- S. aureus produce exfoliative toxins A and B that cleave desmoglein 1 (desomosomes)
Who does Impetigo most commonly affect?
Children, very contageous