Dermatologist Certificate Dermatopathology and Histology 3

Question 1

Verocay bodies are a histological feature associated with which cutaneous tumor?

Accepted Answer

Schwannoma (neurilemmoma)

Answer

Verocay bodies are palisading arrangements of Schwann cell nuclei around acellular fibrillar material (Antoni A areas), pathognomonic of schwannoma.

Question 2

Solar elastosis is characterized by which histological finding in the dermis?

Accepted Answer

Basophilic degeneration and clumping of elastic fibers

Answer

Solar elastosis results from chronic UV exposure causing abnormal production and degeneration of elastic fibers, which appear basophilic/amphophilic and clumped on H&E staining.

Question 3

Which direct immunofluorescence pattern is characteristic of pemphigus vulgaris?

Accepted Answer

Intercellular IgG in a 'chicken wire' pattern

Answer

Pemphigus vulgaris shows intercellular IgG deposits creating a 'chicken wire' or 'fish net' pattern throughout the epidermis due to anti-desmoglein autoantibodies.

Question 4

Which histochemical stain is most useful for identifying amyloid deposits in the skin, and what is its characteristic finding under polarized light?

Accepted Answer

Congo red stain showing apple-green birefringence

Answer

Congo red staining with apple-green birefringence under polarized light is the gold standard for identifying amyloid deposits in skin and other tissues.

Question 5

Palisading granulomas with central necrobiosis of collagen and mucin are the histological hallmark of which condition?

Accepted Answer

Granuloma annulare

Answer

Granuloma annulare is characterized by palisading histiocytes surrounding central zones of degenerated collagen and mucin deposition in the dermis.

Dermatologist Certificate Practice Test

Dermatologist Certificate Practice Test

Dermatologist Certificate Dermatopathology and Histology 3