PATIENT RESOURCES

Dermatopathology lab resources

What is dermatopathology?

Dermatopathology is a medical specialty that focuses on diagnosing skin conditions by examining skin samples under a microscope specially prepared on glass slides in a laboratory. When a dermatologist or clinician takes a sample or surgically removes tissue from your body, the sample is sent to a dermatopathologist.

A dermatopathologist is a highly specialized type of pathologist with advanced training focused specifically on diseases of the skin.

Dermatopathology plays an important role in skin care because many skin conditions can look similar on the surface. Microscopic examination allows for precise diagnosis, giving patients clarity, confidence, and appropriate care.

Understanding your pathology report

Pathology Diagnosis

This is the final diagnosis of your skin condition, made by a dermatopathologist who examines your tissue sample after it has been specially prepared and placed on a glass slide for evaluation under a microscope.

Comments

In this section, the dermatopathologist explains or clarifies details about the diagnosis. These notes provide additional information that helps your clinician understand the findings and guide your care.

DDX (Differential Diagnosis)

This is a list of potential diagnoses that might fit based on the findings of the testing. Your clinician will usually create a clinical DDX based on what they see during your exam, and the pathologist will create a DDX based on what they see under the microscope. Once the dermatologist receives your pathology result, they will compare these findings and recommend a treatment plan.

Microscopic Description

This is a section on your pathology report where the dermatopathologist gives a detailed technical description of what they are seeing under the microscope. Your clinician may compare these findings with what they see in the clinic to help guide treatment.

IHC (Immunohistochemistry)

This is a specialized laboratory test that targets proteins on specific cells. It uses a high-tech antibody-antigen reaction to highlight the presence of specific cell types in the biopsy tissue. Our lab uses many different IHC stains to help diagnosis your biopsy. A few of the most frequently applied are IHC for melanocytes (Melan A, SOX 10, PRAME) and lymphocytes (CD3,CD4,CD8).

Special Stains

Special stains are additional stains applied to your tissue sample on a glass slide that highlight specific organisms or material in the tissue. These are most commonly used to identify fungus and bacteria.

Other resources