Clues
Over many years experienced Dermatopathologists have accumulated a variety of clues which help point to a particular diagnosis especially where two or more conditions are being considered as the correct diagnosis. The best sources for these clues are the books of the late Dr Bernie Ackerman and the textbook on Dermatopathology of Dr David Weedon.
Ackerman's clues can be accessed online via the Derm101 website while those of Dr Weedon can be viewed in the Kindle sample of his book
We will illustrate some of these clues in the Links section opposite.
Weedon also does a nice section on Clues in various diseases. Again this is available as part of the free access to the beginning of the Kindle version of his excellent book. See the link above.
eg His clues to Herpetic Folliculitis include a bottom heavy infiltrate, Sebaceitis ( inflammation involving the sebaceous glands) Lichenoid inflammation around the follicle, a Necrotic lower follicle and Mutinucleate epithelial cells in the surrounding follicular epithelium or overlying epidermis.
