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Skin-nontumor / Clinical Dermatology

General

Common Pathologic Terms

Reviewer: Cecilia Rosales, M.D, Baylor College (see Reviewers page)
Revised: 24 August 2011, last major update August 2010
Copyright: (c) 2002-2011, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.

General
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● Acantholysis: loss of intercellular connections (desmosomes) between keratinocytes; occurs in pemphigus vulgaris and related disorders; causes change in cell shape from polygonal to round
● Acanthosis: thickening of epidermis (squamous layer); rete ridges usually extend deeper into dermis
● Atrophy: thinning of epidermis, associated with age or disease
● Basophilic degeneration: age and sunlight related changes of collagen and elastic fibers
● Blister: vesicle or bullae
● Bullae: fluid filled area > 5 mm; either intraepidermal or subepidermal; intraepidermal bullae are due to spongiosis or acantholysis; subepidermal bullae are due to extensive papillary dermal edema
● Calcinosis: deposit of calcium
● Colloid bodies: also called Civatte bodies; apoptotic keratinocytes, are oval/round, immediately above or below epidermal basement membrane
● Comedo: hair follicle infundibulum is dilated and plugged with keratin and lipids
● Cyst: encapsulated cavity or sac lined by true epithelium
● Dyskeratosis: abnormal, premature keratinization of keratinocytes below granular cell layer; often have brightly eosinophilic cytoplasm
● Epidermolysis: alteration of granular layer with perinuclear clear spaces, swollen and irregular keratohyalin granules, increased thickness of granular layer; different from acantholysis
● Epidermotropism: atypical lymphocytes present in epidermis (seen in cutaneous T cell lymphoma)
● Erosion: discontinuity of skin causing partial loss of epidermis (compare to ulceration)
● Excoriation: deep linear scratch, often self-induced
● Exocytosis: normal appearing lymphocytes in epidermis (spongiotic dermatitis)
● Horn: conical mass of cornifed cells
● Hydropic (liquefactive) degeneration: basal cells become vacuolated, separated and disorganized
● Hyperkeratosis: thickened cornified layer, often with prominent granular layer; keratin may be abnormal; either orthokeratotic (hyperkeratosis is exaggeration of normal pattern of keratinization with no nuclei in cornified layer) or parakeratotic (hyperkeratosis has retained nuclei in cornified layer)
● Lentiginous: linear pattern of melanocytic proliferation within epidermal basal cell layer
● Leukocytoclasis: karyorrhexis and destruction of neutrophils; occurs with neutrophilic vasculitis (also called leukocytoclastic vasculitis)
● Lichenification: thick, rough skin with prominent skin markings usually due to repeated rubbing
● Lichenoid interface change: destruction of basal keratinocytes, causing remodeling of basement membrane zone; also bandlike lymphocytic infiltrate
● Macule: circumscribed flat colored area of any size
● Nodule: solid, deeply extending lesion > 5 mm
● Oncholysis: loss of integrity of nail substance
● Papillomatosis: outward overgrowth of epidermis with elongation of dermal papillae
● Papule: elevated and solid area, 5 mm or less
● Parakeratosis: cells of cornified layer retain their nuclei, often less prominent or absent granular layer; normal for mucous membranes
● Patch: flat discoloration > 5 mm
● Papule: solid elevated lesion < 5 mm
● Plaque: elevated flat topped area, usually > 5 mm
● Poikiloderma: combination of atrophy, telangiectasia and pigmentary changes
● Purpura: extravasation of red blood cells into the skin or mucous membranes
● Pustule: intraepidermal or subepidermal vesicle or bullae filled with neutrophils
● Scale: dry, horny, platelike excrescence usually due to imperfect cornification
● Scale crust: parakeratotic debris, degenerating inflammatory cells and tissue exudate on surface of epidermis
● Sinus: tract connecting cavities to each other or to the surface
● Spongiosis: intraepidermal edema, causing splaying apart of keratinocytes in stratum spinosum (resembling a sponge), vesicles due to shearing of desmosomes
● Ulceration: discontinuity of skin causing complete loss of epidermis and possible loss of dermis
● Vesicle: fluid filed area, 5 mm or less
● Wheal: itchy, transient, elevated area with variable blanching and erythema, due to dermal edema

End of Skin-nontumor / Clinical Dermatology > General > Common Pathologic Terms

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