Dermatopathology and Immunodermatology

Dermatopathology and immunodermatology encompass the microscopic evaluation of cutaneous diseases. Our staff is available for interpretation of frozen or fresh specimens sent for processing and examination, as well as for consultation on outside slides. Reports include description of the histological or immunological patterns, diagnosis, and differential diagnosis, when appropriate. The following studies are available in our laboratories:

• Dermatopathology
  • Examination of hematoxylin-and-eosin stained sections; histochemical stains (eg, for mucin, fungi, elastic tissue); special immunohistochemical stains useful in the differential diagnosis of cutaneous epithelial, mesenchymal (soft tissue), and elanocytic and lymphocytic neoplasms; and in situ hybridization studies for viral infections (herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, human papilloma viruses, and selected fungal organisms); T- and B-cell gene rearrangement studies for the evaluation of cutaneous lymphocytic neoplasms by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern (frozen) method
• Immunodermatology
  • Direct immunofluorescence testing of tissue and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) testing of sera indicated in the evaluation of autoimmune bullous diseases, connective tissue diseases, lichen planus, urticarial eruptions, vasculitis, and a variety of other dermatoses
  • Serum tests for desmogleins 1 and 3 (by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]) for the diagnosis of pemphigus, and BP180 & BP230 (by ELISA) for the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid
  • IIF testing on serum for endomysial antibody and tissue transglutaminase (by ELISA) for glutensensitive enteropathy, dermatitis herpetiformis, or celiac disease