Bruce R. Smoller - Dermatopathology: The Basics

Dermatopathology: The Basics serves as an effective and efficient handbook for the student of dermatopathology, and as a practical bench reference for the practicing diagnostician who desires rapid access to criteria that are useful in differentiating histologically similar entities. The reader is able to focus upon a single histologic observation, i.e., inflammatory conditions without epidermal changes, and use this as a starting point from which to build a differential diagnosis based upon pattern recognition. As each entity is addressed, there is a concise discussion of the basic clinical findings and epidemiologic associations. This is followed by a histologic description, highlighting areas that serve to discriminate between the entity under discussion and similar ones. Any immunologic studies that might augment the diagnostic sensitivity or specificity are discussed. Chapters are thematically based and consist of essential bullet points arranged in organized outlines allowing for easy access and direct comparison between entities. The salient histologic features are depicted with abundant high quality, full-color photomicrographs placed immediately adjacent to the appropriate histologic bullet points. This volume serves as an effective and efficient handbook for the student of dermatopathology, and as a practical bench reference for the practicing diagnostician who desires rapid access to criteria that are useful in differentiating histologically similar entities. The elaborate pictorial documentation serves as an atlas of the commonest dermatologic disorders.