The Histology of Dermatological Specimens - Part 1

Continuing Education Credits

• P.A.C.E.® Contact Hours: 1 hour(s)
• Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Science CE Credit Hours -
  General (Histology): 1 hour(s)

Objectives

• Describe the various specimen types received in the dermatopathology laboratory and why it is important to understand skin morphology.
• Summarize the various steps taken to maintain patient/specimen integrity and accuracy throughout the collection and grossing process.
• Identify the different layers of skin and the various cells that make up each layer.
• Define the most common grossing protocols for biopsy shaves and punches of various sizes.
• Describe how excisions are grossed, with orientation and without, including the identification of potential grossing errors and how to prevent them.
• Define the Mohs technique used in dermatology.
• Compare and contrast the various steps of Mohs processing and paraffin processing.

Course Outline

• Introduction to Skin
• The Field of Dermatology
• Skin Cancer Facts, Figures, and Estimates
• Skin Facts and Functions
• The majority of specimens submitted to the dermatopathology laboratory are biopsies of suspicious lesions and cutaneous tumors, as well as excisions o...
• Skin is the human body's largest organ. What are its main functions? (Choose all that apply.)
• Skin Sample Collection and Processing
• Skin Specimen Collection: Biopsies and Excisions
• Overview of Collection Procedures
• Skin Sampling Procedures
• Which of the statements are TRUE and reflect the correct collection procedures outlined in this course. (Choose all that apply.)
• Match the surgical procedure to the shape and characteristics of the sample produced.
• Skin Histomorphology
• Skin Layers: Overview
• Place the following skin layers in order, starting with the outer layer and ending with the inner layer furthest from the surface of the skin.
• Epidermis
• The most common type of cell found in the epidermis is called the keratinocyte.
• Dermis
• Subcutis (Hypodermis)
• Which of the following cells or structures are NOT characteristic of the dermal layer?
• Relevance of Skin Morphology in the Laboratory
• Skin Grossing Techniques - Biopsies
• Gross Examination: General Considerations
• Gross Examination of Shave, Punch, and Curettage Specimens
• A shave biopsy is measured during the gross examination and the dimensions are 14 mm x 11 mm x 4 mm. The grossing tech should trisect this shave biops...
• Skin Grossing Techniques - Excisions
• Grossing Skin Excisions Without Orientation
• One color of ink can be used for excisions without orientation indicators and the distal tips can be submitted in one cassette.
• Grossing Skin Excisions With Orientation
• Commonly, the excision that has an indicator on one of the edges can be treated like the face of a clock, and arbitrarily assign the 12 o'clock to tha...
• Prevention of Skin Grossing Errors
• Prevention of Errors During Gross Examination
• Errors in patient or specimen identification are not the responsibility of the grossing tech, since such errors should be addressed and corrected by r...
• Mohs Skin Surgery
• Mohs History
• Mohs Surgery Overview
• Mohs Procedure versus Standard Excisions
• The goal of Mohs surgery is to precisely excise the affected area while preserving normal surrounding tissue.
• Which of the following statements are TRUE with regard to Mohs surgical excisions? (Choose all that apply.)
• Conclusion
• Summary of Dermatological Histology
• References
• References

Additional Information