Histopathology of dermatitis can be performed in uncertain cases of inflammatory skin condition that remain uncertain after history and physical examination. [1]
Generally a skin biopsy:
A superficial or shave biopsy is regarded as insufficient. [2]
Generally 3 sections for H&E staining and one section with periodic acid Schiff (PAS) [notes 1] [2]
One approach is to classify into mainly either of the following, primarily based on depth of involvement: [2]
Continue in corresponding section:
It is characterized by epithelial intercellular edema. [2]
Characteristics | Micrograph | Photograph | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Acute | Subacute | Chronic | |||
Generally/Not otherwise specified [notes 2] | Typical findings: [2]
| Typical findings: [2]
| Typical findings: [2]
PAS stain is essential to exclude fungal infection. [2] | Subacute | |
Allergic/contact dermatitis or atopic dermatitis | As above. Eosinophils may be present in the dermis and epidermis (eosinophilic spongiosis). [2] | Allergic dermatitis | Atopic dermatitis | ||
Seborrheic dermatitis | Typical findings: [5]
| Typical findings: [5]
| Typical findings: [5]
|
In addition to above, an unspecific spongiotic dermatitis can be consistent with nummular dermatitis, dyshidrotic dermatitis, Id reaction, dermatophytosis, miliaria, Gianotti-Crosti syndrome and pityriasis rosea. [2] [notes 2]
These are sorted into either: [2]
Main conditions [6] | Characteristics | Micrograph | Photograph | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Generally/Not otherwise specified | Typical findings, called "vacuolar interface dermatitis": [6]
| |||
Acute graft-versus-host-disease | ||||
Allergic drug reaction | ||||
Lichen sclerosus | Hyperkeratosis, atrophic epidermis, sclerosis of dermis and dermal lymphocytes. [7] | |||
Erythema multiforme | ||||
Lupus erythematosis | Typical findings in systemic lupus erythematosus: [8]
|
An interface dermatitis with vacuolar alteration, not otherwise specified, may be caused by viral exanthems, phototoxic dermatitis, acute radiation dermatitis, erythema dyschromicum perstans, lupus erythematosus and dermatomyositis. [2]
Main conditions [2] | Characteristics | Micrograph | Photograph |
---|---|---|---|
Generally/Not otherwise specified | Typical findings: [2]
| ||
Lichen planus | Irregular epidermal hyperplasia with a jagged “sawtooth” appearance, compact hyperkeratosis or orthokeratosis, foci of wedge-shaped hypergranulosis, basilar vacuolar degeneration, slight spongiosis in the spinous layer, and squamatization. The dermal papillae between the elongated rete ridges are frequently dome shaped. Necrotic keratinocytes can be observed in the basal layer of the epidermis and at the dermal-epidermal junction. Eosinophilic remnants of anucleate apoptotic basal cells may also be found in the dermis and are referred to as “colloid or civatte bodies”. Whickham striae are usually seen in the areas of hypergranulosis. Vacuolar degeneration at the basal layer may be noted leading to focal subepidermal clefts (Max Joseph spaces). Squamatization occurs as a result of maturation and flattening of cells in the basal layer. It happens in areas of marked hypergranulosis with prominence of the sawtooth pattern of rete ridges. Wedge-shaped hypergranulosis can occur in the eccrine ducts (acrosyringia) or hair follicles (acrotrichia). In the hypertrophic subtype, the associated hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, hypergranulosis, papillomatosis, acanthosis, and hyperplasia markedly increased with thicker collagen bundles forming in the dermis. Moreover, the rete ridges are more elongated and rounded as opposed to the typical sawtooth pattern. In atrophic LP, loss of the rete ridges and dermal fibrosis is prominent. In vesiculobullous LP, the disease progression is quicker. Hence, some of the distinctive features such as hyperkeratosis, hypergranulosis, or dense lymphocytic dermal-epidermal infiltrate may not be present. LP lesion may resolve with residual hyperpigmentation caused by a persistent increase in the number of melanophages in the papillary dermis. [9] | ||
Lichenoid drug reaction | Can virtually be indistinguishable from cutaneous LP both clinically and histopathologically.
| ||
Lichen nitidus |
| ||
Lichen amyloidosus | Presence of amyloid, possibly with direct immunofluorescence and Congo red staining. [11] |
Interface dermatitis with lichenoid inflammation, not otherwise specified, can be caused by lichen planus-like keratosis, lichenoid actinic keratosis, lichenoid lupus erythematosus, lichenoid GVHD (chronic GVHD), pigmented purpuric dermatosis, pityriasis rosea, and pityriasis lichenoides chronica. [2] Unusual conditions that can be associated with a lichenoid inflammatory cell infiltrate are HIV dermatitis, syphilis, mycosis fungoides, urticaria pigmentosa, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. [2] In cases of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, it is important to exclude potentially harmful mimics such as a regressed melanocytic lesion or lichenoid pigmented actinic keratosis. [2]
Examining multiple deeper levels is recommended if initial cuts do not correlate well with the clinical history. [2]
Psoriaform dermatitis typically displays: [2]
Further histopathologic diagnosis is performed by the following parameters:
Condition | Hyperkeratosis | Parakeratosis | Acanthosis | Suprapapillary plate | Granular cell layer changes | Spinous cell layer changes | Basal cell layer changes | Other distinctive feature | Micrograph | Photograph |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Psoriasis | Present | Diffuse | Regular | Thin | Decreased or absent | Increased mitoses; minimal spongiosis Clubbed rete pegs [12] [13] | Absent |
| ||
Psoriasiform drug reaction | Present | Focal | Regular and irregular | Normal or thick | Normal | Spongiosis; eosinophilic infiltrate | Inflammatory cells; Civatte bodies | |||
Chronic allergic/contact and atopic dermatitis | Present | Focal; crust may be present | Irregular | Normal or thick | Normal | Spongiosis; eosinophilic infiltrate | Absent | |||
Fungal infection | Compact | Focal; crust may be present | Irregular | Normal or thick | Normal | Occasional neutrophiles; | Absent | |||
Lichen simplex chronicus | Present | Focal; thick crust | Regular or irregular | Thin or thick | Thickened; hypergranulosis | ±minimal inflammatory infiltrate | Absent | |||
Scabies | Present | Focal or diffuse | Irregular | Normal or thick | Normal | Inflammatory infiltrate; eosinophilic spongiosis | Absent | |||
Seborrheic dermatitis and HIV dermatitis | Present | Focal | Irregular | Normal or thick | Normal | Spongiosis; lymphocytic and neutrophilic infiltrate | Absent | |||
Pityriasis rubra pilaris | Compact | Shoulder parakeratosis; [notes 3] alternating orthokeratosis and parakeratosis | Regular or irregular | Normal or thick | Normal | Spongiosis; lymphocytic infiltrate; rare acantholysis | Occasional vacuolar change | |||
Pityriasis rosea | Present | Focal | Irregular | Normal or thick | Normal | Small foci of spongiosis; lymphocytic infiltrate | Occasional necrotic keratinocytes | |||
Syphilis | Present | Focal | Regular or irregular | Normal or thick | Normal | Lymphocytes and neutrophils | Interface change | |||
Pityriasis lichenoides chronica | Present | Caps of parakeratosis | Irregular | Normal | Normal | Mild spongiosis, lymphocytic infiltrate; necrotic keratinocytes | Necrotic keratinocytes | |||
Mycosis fungoides | Present | Focal | Regular or irregular | Normal | Normal | Minimal or no spongiosis; ±Pautrier microabscess | Atypical lymphoid cells lining the dermo–epidermal junction |
Main conditions [2] | Characteristics | Micrograph | Photograph |
---|---|---|---|
Urticaria, lymphocyte predominant | Perivascular location. Mast cells are relatively sparse, potentially demonstrated with special stains, preferably tryptase stain. Extravasated erythrocytes are present in about 50% of the cases. No vasculitis. [14] | Dermal edema [solid arrows in (A,B)] and a sparse superficial predominantly perivascular and interstitial infiltrate of lymphocytes and eosinophils without signs of vasculitis (dashed arrow). [15] | |
Fungal skin infection | Often visible fungus. Other signs depend on fungus species. [16] | ||
Pigmented purpuric dermatosis |
| ||
Erythema annulare centrifugum |
Deep lesions: Sharply demarcated perivascular mononuclear cell infiltrate in middle to deep dermis [18] | ||
Not otherwise specified [notes 2] | A lesion with superficial lymphocytic infiltrate without additional histopathologic characteristics can be due to for example drug reactions and insect bites. [2] [notes 2] |
Main conditions [2] | Characteristics | Micrograph | Photograph |
---|---|---|---|
Urticaria, lymphocyte predominant | Perivascular location. Mast cells are relatively sparse, potentially demonstrated with special stains, preferably tryptase stain. Extravasated erythrocytes are present in about 50% of the cases. No vasculitis. [14] | Dermal edema (solid arrows) and a sparse superficial predominantly perivascular and interstitial infiltrate of lymphocytes and eosinophils (dashed arrow) | |
Prevesicular stage of bullous pemphigoid | Image at right shows influx of inflammatory cells including eosinophils and neutrophils in the dermis (solid arrow) and blister cavity (dashed arrows), and deposition of fibrin (asterisks). [15] However, the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid consist of at least 2 positive results out of 3 criteria: [19]
| ||
Not otherwise specified [notes 2] | A lesion with superficial lymphoeosinophilic infiltrate without additional histopathologic characteristics can be due to for example drug reactions and insect bites. [2] [notes 2] |
Main conditions [2] | Characteristics | Micrograph | Photograph |
---|---|---|---|
Rosacea | Typically enlarged, dilated capillaries and venules located in the upper dermis, angulated telangiectasias, perivascular and perifollicular lymphocytic infiltration, and superficial dermal edema. [20] | ||
Secondary syphilis | Various, but often one or a combination of: [21]
| ||
Erythema migrans | Typically a superficial and deep perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate. [22] Plasma cells are typically located at the periphery of the lesion, whereas eosinophils are in the center. [22] | ||
Kaposi’s sarcoma in patch stage | The patch stage typically shows irregular proliferation of jagged vascular channels in the dermis below an integral epidermis. The so-called promontory sign is sometimes found in patch stage lesions and denotes vascular spaces surrounding pre-existing blood (see image). [23] vessels | ||
Not otherwise specified [notes 2] | A lesion with superficial lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate without additional histopathologic characteristics can be due to for example trauma, ulceration, scar and early cutaneous connective tissue diseases. [2] [notes 2] |
Main conditions [2] | Characteristics | Micrograph | Photograph |
---|---|---|---|
Urticaria pigmentosa | Mastocytosis with a clinical picture of darkish spots. | ||
Not otherwise specified [notes 2] | Includes the rare disease of primary mastocytosis. [2] [notes 2] |
These include bacterial infections including leprosy, and the sample should therefore be stained with Ziel-Neelsen, acid fast stains, Gomori methenamine silver, PAS, and Fite stains. [2] If negative, an unspecific lymphohistocytic dermatosis may be caused by drug reactions and viral infections. [2] [notes 2]
Main conditions [2] | Characteristics | Micrograph | Photograph |
---|---|---|---|
Urticaria, neutrophil predominant | |||
Dermatitis herpetiformis |
| ||
Early linear IgA bullous dermatosis | Subepidermal blister formation. [26] | ||
Early febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet's syndrome) | Neutrophilic and lymphohistiocytic infiltrate and edema. [27] | ||
Connective tissue disorders |
| ||
Cutaneous small-vessel vasculitis |
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) Last Update: July 11, 2019.This article incorporates text from a free content work. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.( license statement/permission ). Text taken from Dermatitis , Patholines.
Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disease that affects the skin, nails, hair, and mucous membranes. It is not an actual lichen, but is named for its appearance. It is characterized by polygonal, flat-topped, violaceous papules and plaques with overlying, reticulated, fine white scale, commonly affecting dorsal hands, flexural wrists and forearms, trunk, anterior lower legs and oral mucosa. The hue may be gray-brown in people with darker skin. Although there is a broad clinical range of LP manifestations, the skin and oral cavity remain as the major sites of involvement. The cause is unknown, but it is thought to be the result of an autoimmune process with an unknown initial trigger. There is no cure, but many different medications and procedures have been used in efforts to control the symptoms.
Telogen effluvium is a scalp disorder characterized by the thinning or shedding of hair resulting from the early entry of hair in the telogen phase. It is in this phase that telogen hairs begin to shed at an increased rate, where normally the approximate rate of hair loss is 125 hairs per day.
Pemphigus is a rare group of blistering autoimmune diseases that affect the skin and mucous membranes. The name is derived from the Greek root pemphix, meaning "blister".
Nummular dermatitis is one of the many forms of dermatitis. It is characterized by round or oval-shaped itchy lesions. The name comes from the Latin word "nummus," which means "coin."
A seborrheic keratosis is a non-cancerous (benign) skin tumour that originates from cells, namely keratinocytes, in the outer layer of the skin called the epidermis. Like liver spots, seborrheic keratoses are seen more often as people age.
Mycosis fungoides, also known as Alibert-Bazin syndrome or granuloma fungoides, is the most common form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. It generally affects the skin, but may progress internally over time. Symptoms include rash, tumors, skin lesions, and itchy skin.
Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune pruritic skin disease that typically occurs in people aged over 60, that may involve the formation of blisters (bullae) in the space between the epidermal and dermal skin layers. It is classified as a type II hypersensitivity reaction, which involves formation of anti-hemidesmosome antibodies, causing a loss of keratinocytes to basement membrane adhesion.
Blaschko's lines, also called the lines of Blaschko, are lines of normal cell development in the skin. These lines are only visible in those with a mosaic skin condition or in chimeras where different cell lines contain different genes. These lines may express different amounts of melanin, or become visible due to a differing susceptibility to disease. In such individuals, they can become apparent as whorls, patches, streaks or lines in a linear or segmental distribution over the skin. They follow a V shape over the back, S-shaped whirls over the chest and sides, and wavy shapes on the head. Not all mosaic skin conditions follow Blaschko's lines.
White piedra is a mycosis of the hair caused by several species of fungi in the genus Trichosporon. It is characterized by soft nodules composed of yeast cells and arthroconidia that encompass hair shafts.
Skin biopsy is a biopsy technique in which a skin lesion is removed to be sent to a pathologist to render a microscopic diagnosis. It is usually done under local anesthetic in a physician's office, and results are often available in 4 to 10 days. It is commonly performed by dermatologists. Skin biopsies are also done by family physicians, internists, surgeons, and other specialties. However, performed incorrectly, and without appropriate clinical information, a pathologist's interpretation of a skin biopsy can be severely limited, and therefore doctors and patients may forgo traditional biopsy techniques and instead choose Mohs surgery.
Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is a chronic autoimmune blistering skin condition, characterised by intensely itchy blisters filled with a watery fluid. DH is a cutaneous manifestation of coeliac disease, although the exact causal mechanism is not known. DH is neither related to nor caused by herpes virus; the name means that it is a skin inflammation having an appearance similar to herpes.
Spongiosis is mainly intercellular edema in the epidermis, and is characteristic of eczematous dermatitis, manifested clinically by intraepidermal vesicles, "juicy" papules, and/or lichenification. It is a severe case of eczema that affects the epidermis, dermis or subcutaneous skin tissues. The three types of spongiotic dermatitis are acute, subacute and chronic. A dermatologist can diagnose acute spongiotic dermatitis by examining the skin during an office visit, but a biopsy is needed for an accurate diagnosis of the type.
Unilateral nevoid telangiectasia presents with fine thread veins, typically over a segment of skin supplied by a particular nerve on one side of the body. It most frequently involves the trigeminal, C3 and C4, or nearby areas. The condition was named in 1970 by Victor Selmanowitz.
Cutaneous meningioma, also known as heterotopic meningeal tissue, and rudimentary meningocele is a developmental defect, and results from the presence of meningocytes outside the calvarium.
Erosive pustular dermatitis of the scalp presents with pustules, erosions, and crusts on the scalp of primarily older Caucasian females, and on biopsy, has a lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate with or without foreign body giant cells and pilosebaceous atrophy.
Pigmented purpuric dermatosis refers to one of the three major classes of skin conditions characterized by purpuric skin eruptions.
Postinflammatory hypopigmentation is a cutaneous condition characterized by decreased pigment in the skin following inflammation of the skin.
Vacuolar interface dermatitis is a dermatitis with vacuolization at the dermoepidermal junction, with lymphocytic inflammation at the epidermis and dermis.
Cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19 are characteristic signs or symptoms of the Coronavirus disease 2019 that occur in the skin. The American Academy of Dermatology reports that skin lesions such as morbilliform, pernio, urticaria, macular erythema, vesicular purpura, papulosquamous purpura and retiform purpura are seen in people with COVID-19. Pernio-like lesions were more common in mild disease while retiform purpura was seen only in critically ill patients. The major dermatologic patterns identified in individuals with COVID-19 are urticarial rash, confluent erythematous/morbilliform rash, papulovesicular exanthem, chilbain-like acral pattern, livedo reticularis and purpuric "vasculitic" pattern. Chilblains and Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children are also cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19.