Dermatopathology and Histology Flashcards

Pautrier microabscesses on skin biopsy are characteristic of which condition?

Answer: Mycosis fungoides

Pautrier microabscesses are intraepidermal collections of atypical T lymphocytes (cerebriform nuclei) that are pathognomonic of mycosis fungoides (cutaneous T-cell lymphoma).

'Interface dermatitis' describes inflammatory damage primarily at which anatomical site?

Answer: At the dermal-epidermal junction

Interface dermatitis refers to a lichenoid inflammatory pattern at the dermal-epidermal junction, causing vacuolar change or band-like infiltrate, as seen in lichen planus and lupus.

The 'saw-tooth' pattern of rete ridges on skin histology is most characteristic of which condition?

Answer: Lichen planus

Lichen planus shows irregular, saw-tooth shaped rete ridges with a band-like lymphocytic infiltrate hugging the dermal-epidermal junction.

Flame figures in the dermis are classically associated with which dermatological condition?

Answer: Wells syndrome (eosinophilic cellulitis)

Flame figures are eosinophilic granular deposits coating collagen fibers, characteristic of Wells syndrome (eosinophilic cellulitis), a recurrent eosinophilic dermatosis.

A 'Grenz zone' on dermatopathology refers to which histological finding?

Answer: A band of spared papillary dermis between the epidermis and a dermal infiltrate

The Grenz zone is a narrow band of normal papillary dermis separating the overlying epidermis from the underlying inflammatory or neoplastic infiltrate, often seen in lepromatous leprosy and some lymphomas.

Acantholysis, the disruption of cell-to-cell adhesion between keratinocytes, is a hallmark histological finding in which condition?

Answer: Pemphigus vulgaris

Pemphigus vulgaris features intraepidermal acantholysis due to IgG autoantibodies against desmoglein 3, causing suprabasal blisters with 'tombstone' basal cells.

Which inflammatory cell type predominates in the histological findings of allergic contact dermatitis?

Answer: Lymphocytes

Allergic contact dermatitis is a type IV (delayed-type) hypersensitivity reaction mediated by T lymphocytes, which predominate in the perivascular dermal infiltrate.