DermNet provides Google Translate, a free machine translation service. Note that this may not provide an exact translation in all languages

Translate

Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis pathology

Author: Dr Ben Tallon, Dermatologist/Dermatopathologist, Tauranga, New Zealand, 2011.


toc-icon
Table of contents
arrow-right-small

Introduction

Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis is a histological pattern seen in isolation or as an incidental finding in a number of dermatological conditions.

Histology of epidermolytic hyperkeratosis

Low power view of histology of epidermolytic hyperkeratosis demonstrates hyperkeratosis and epidermal hyperplasia of varying degrees (Figure 1). The diagnostic features include a characteristic vacuolar degeneration with hypergranulosis of the stratum granulosum and stratum spinosum (Figures 2 and 3).

Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis

Histological variants of epidermolytic hyperkeratosis

Epidermolytic acanthoma: When the changes of epidermolytic hyperkeratosis are seen forming a solitary lesion. Rarely multiple discrete lesions may be seen in disseminated epidermolytic acanthoma.

Epidermolytic ichthyosis: epidermolytic hyperkeratosis may be seen within biopsies of this generalised congenital condition.

Incidental: Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis may be seen in normal skin adjacent to any skin lesion or dermatosis.

Epidermolytic leukoplakia: is the term used for epidermolytic features arising on a mucosal surface (which is nonkeratinised).

Epidermal naevus variant: epidermolytic hyperkeratosis may be seen within some linear and systematised epidermal naevi.

 

References

  • Skin Pathology (3rd edition, 2002). Weedon D
  • Pathology of the Skin (3rd edition, 2005). McKee PH, J. Calonje JE, Granter SR

On DermNet

Other websites

Books about skin diseases

 

Related information

Sign up to the newsletter