Dermatopathology is the microscopic study of human skin in health and disease. Whilst some skin diseases can be diagnosed on purely clinical grounds, many require confirmation from histological study of skin biopsy samples.

Trainees in both dermatology and pathology must learn dermatopathology as part of their specialist training. Whilst there are a number of large reference works, these are not suitable for the trainee as they assume too much knowledge.

The book will be well illustrated (as this is a very visual subject) and will be didactic in nature as it aims to teach the skills of pattern recognition and to explain how the visible features in a histological slide correlate to disease.

Section one explains the structure and function of normal human skin from the anatomical point of view. Section two covers techniques of obtaining the biopsy sample and preparing the histological slide, staining and fixing the specimen etc. Section three goes through all the definitions of each type of microscopic feature such as hyperkeratosis, exocytosis, pleomorphism etc clearly pointing out the relevant points on a histological slide. Section four goes through each skin disease and shows how the key diagnostic features can be identified in order to confirm a diagnosis.

Dermatopathology is the first comprehensive reference work compiled specifically for trainees in dermatology and pathology. Comprehensively illustrated, it teaches the skills of pattern recognition and explains how the visible features in a histological slide correlate to disease. As dermatopathology - the microscopic study of human skin in health and disease - is a compulsory part of training for dermatologists and pathologists, this will be essential reading for all trainees in this specialty. Divided into four sections, the text explains the structure and function of normal human skin from the anatomical point of view, covers techniques of obtaining the biopsy sample and preparing the histological slide, contains definitions of each type of microscopic feature clearly pointing out the relevant points on a histological slide, and shows how the key diagnostic features of each skin disease can be identified in order to confirm a diagnosis.

Dr Donald MacDonald, formerly Department of Dermatology, St Thomas and Guy's Hospital, London

Dr Mohamed Ben-Gashir, Histopathology Department, University College London, London

Dr Alistair Robson, Department of Dermatopathology, St Thomas Hospital, London

CONTENTS.

Forewords by Edward Wilson Jones & R.K.Winkelmann.

Introduction.

List of Contents.

List of Abbreviations.

Section 1 – Normal Histology.

1.1 Normal Skin.

1.2 Salivary Gland.

1.3 The Nail.

1.4 Striated muscle (skeletal muscle.

1.5 Cartilage.

1.6 Bone.

Section 2 - Morphology of individual inflammatory cells.

Section 3 - Histological definitions.

Section 4 - Histopathology specimens.

4.1 Biopsy techniques and indications.

4.2 Specimen preparation.

4.3 Histochemistry in dermatopathology.

4.4 Immunocytochemistry in dermatopathology.

Section 5 - Physical effects and artefacts.

5.1 In vivo physical effects and artefacts.

5.13 Differential Diagnosis.

5.2 Artefacts etc associated with tissue processing.

Section 6 - Congenital and inherited diseases.

Section 7 - Bullous Diseases.

Section 8 - Inflammatory disorders.

8.1 Spongiotic.

8.2 Psoriasiform.

8.3 Lichenoid.

8.4 Connective tissue disorders.

8.5 Dermal inflammation and perforating disorders.

Section 9 - Follicular disorders and alopecia.

Section 10 - Infections and infestations.

10.1 Viral infections.

10.2 Non-granulomatous cutaneous bacterial infections.

10.3 Superficial fungal infection.

10.4 Arthropod infestations.

10.5 Helminth infestations.

Section 11 - Granulomatous inflammation.

Section 12 - Panniculitis.

Section 13 - Vasculopathies.

Section 14 - Metabolic diseases.

Section 15 - Disorders of pigmenttion.

Section 16 - Cysts and sinuses.

Section 17 - Tumours of the epidermis.

17.1 Benign.

17.2 Premalignant and malignant.

Section 18 - Adnexal tumours.

18.1 Hair follicle derived tumours.

18.2 Sebaceous tumours.

18.3 Lesions of the sweat apparatus.

18.4 Malignancy in adnexal tumours.

Section 19 - Melanocytic lesions.

Section 20 - Mesenchymal lesions.

20.1 Tumours and proliferations of "fibrous tissue" - a heterogenous group.

20.2 Tumours of adipose tissue.

20.3 Muscle tumours.

20.4 Neuroectodermal and neuroendocrine tumours.

20.5 Tumours of bone and cartilage.

Section 21 - Vascular proliferations and tumours.

Section 22 - Benign and malignant lymphoid infiltrates.

22.1 T-cell lymphoma.

22.2 B-cell lymphoma.

22.3 'Reactive' lymphocytic infiltrates.

Section 23 - Histocytic proliferations.

Section 24 - Cutaneous metastases.

Section 25 - Differential diagnosis in dermatopathology.

25.1 Differential diagnosis of skin disease.

25.2 Differential diagnosis of 'normal skin'.

Section 26 - Index