Dermatopathology

Abstract

A familiarity with dermatopathology is essential for understanding the clinical features, pathophysiology, and therapy of skin diseases. Many difficult and complex dermatological conditions can only be diagnosed by repeated clinical-pathological correlation. In addition, histological characteristics are crucial in planning surgical procedures. The clinicians decide when a biopsy is needed, and then perform it in an appropriate fashion, fix the specimen properly for transport to the laboratory, and provide the dermatopathologist with sufficient clinical information. The dermatopathologists are responsible for producing high-quality slides, microscopic examinations, and pathological reports. They also request additional histochemical, immunofluorescent, or molecular biological staining. The final diagnosis is always made by the clinician, who integrates the clinical features and pathological findings.