Welcome to Dermatopathology - Dermatology

Available Educational Materials in Dermatopathology
DERMATOPATHOLOGY
The standard texts are Weedon’s Skin Pathology*, Lever's Histopathology of the Skin, and
McKee’s Pathology of the Skin. Chapters from Maize’s Cutaneous Pathology are
generally the basis for the Dermatopathology lectures on Monday mornings. These are all
available in our office, as is the most comprehensive text on inflammatory skin disease,
Ackerman's Histopathology of Inflammatory Skin Disease: A Method by Pattern Analysis.
There are also a number of monographs available on specific topics in Dermatopathology,
such as adnexal neoplasms, melanoma, and lymphomas. The best way to develop skill in
the field is to read about cases you encounter and to master basic dermatopathologic
concepts. Please do not remove these resources from the Department. Depending of
course on your background, during the rotation, you should work toward mastery of the
following introductory topics:
1. pattern analysis of basal cell carcinoma
2. types of melanocytic nevi and eponymic naming of nevi
3. architectural criteria for recognition of melanoma and distinction of melanoma from
melanocytic nevi
4. architectural criteria for mycosis fungoides
5. recognition of the basic patterns of inflammatory skin disease, with a brief
differential diagnosis for each pattern.
*UCSF residents may check out a copy of Weedon’s during their rotation, from our
academic office. All first year UCSF dermatology residents will be provided with their own
copy compliments of the Dermatopathology faculty.
In addition, there is a list of dermpath diagnoses that each UCSF dermatology resident
should master according to their year of training, which can be found in the dermatology
resident glass slide collection. Please make sure that those have been studied during your
time on the rotation.
An invaluable correlate for pathology residents rotating through dermatopathology is a
basic knowledge of clinical dermatology. The paperback by Lookingbill and Marks, Clinical
Dermatology, is the one used as an introduction for residents and medical students
rotating through dermatology. We highly recommend that you read the book in its entirety
at the start of your rotation. The brief paperback, Dermatopathology by Burgdorf
(Springer-Verlag, 1984) can also be read in its entirety and provides a valuable overview.
We have lost our copy of this book, but you may be able to find one elsewhere.
There are glass slide collections available in the scope room – we would encourage you to
use them. Looking at unknown cases and then reading about the entities you encounter is
one of the best ways to gain skill in any pathology discipline, including dermatopathology.
The importance of reading during the rotation cannot be overstated.
Another informative study tool is the website http://www.mdlive.net/ Under Program
Series Available, there is the Dermatopathology Master Series covering many topics on
dermatopathology. Under “Archived Lectures”, find Dermatopathology Master Classes for
the available programs. Sign the Guest Book (no password required) to access the
lectures.
REVISED 6-23-2009 4