Histopathology

Question 1

What does acatholysis describe?

Answer 1

Acantholysis is the loss of intracellular connections (e.g. desmosomes) resulting in loss of cohesion of keratinocytes (i.e. intra-epithelial cohesion).

Question 2

In what diseases would you expect to see acatholysis on histology?

Answer 2

• Pemphigus (NOT pemphigoid)
• Mailey-Hailey Disease (familial benign pemphigus)
• Viral illnesses, e.g. HSV or VZV
• Certain tumours, e.g. SCC
• Grover Disease (transient acantholytic dermatosis)

Question 3

What does acanthosis describe in dermatohistopathology?

In what disease can this be seen?

Answer 3

Acanthosis describes diffuse epidermal hyperplasia due to hypertrophy of the stratum spinosum.

It can be seen in Psoriasis.

Question 4

What does atrophy describe in dermatohistopathology?

Answer 4

Atrophy describes the reduced thickeness of epidermis and/or dermis.

This can be seen in Lupus Erythematosus.

Question 5

What does ballooning degeneration describe in dermatohistopathology?

In what disease can this be seen?

Answer 5

Balooning degeneration describes a certain form of apoptosis.

There is formation of intracellular oedema with swollen epithelial cells, followed by acantholysis.

This can be seen in blister formation of HSV infection.

Question 6

What does dyskeratosis describe in dermatohistopathology?

In what disease can this be seen?

Answer 6

Dyskeratosis is abnormal keratinization occuring prematurely within individual cells or group of cells below the stratum granulosum.

There are small, eosinophilic (i.e. purple) cells.

This can be seen in SCCs, as well as the rare Darier’s disease.