Dermatopathology
Dermatopathology integrates tissue reaction patterns with the lesion’s appearance and clinical distribution. A skin biopsy can be misleading if sampling misses the diagnostically active area.
Open interactive lesson & self-check ↗Dermatopathology — specialty learning map
Original conceptual SVG · scalableOriginal overview diagram showing four related domains. This is not a literal anatomy drawing, histologic image or clinical decision rule.
Epidermal patterns
Spongiosis denotes intercellular edema of the epidermis; acanthosis denotes thickening of the viable epidermal layers.
Interface change
Basal-layer vacuolization and inflammatory cells near the dermoepidermal junction may suggest an interface reaction pattern.
Blister level
The cleavage plane distinguishes intraepidermal from subepidermal blisters and narrows, but does not determine, the differential.
Clinicopathologic correlation
Lesion age, treatment history, anatomical site, direct immunofluorescence and clinical images may change interpretation.
Reference and next reading
Explore the original curriculum and publisher-hosted resources for full-depth reading; this note is an original schematic introduction, not an exhaustive chapter.