Description of a proposed simple semi-objective histological scale for the assessment of dermal melanophages in inflammatory skin diseases
Background: Dermal melanophages are a common histopathological finding in several inflammatory skin diseases and may be seen even in clinically normal-looking skin. Clinically hyperpigmented and hypopigmented conditions as well as nonpigmented lesions show melanophages which cannot always be correla...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Indian Journal of Dermatopathology and Diagnostic Dermatology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ijdpdd.com/article.asp?issn=2349-6029;year=2018;volume=5;issue=1;spage=34;epage=38;aulast=Joshi |
| _version_ | 1811279469698088960 |
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| author | Rajiv Sharad Joshi |
| author_facet | Rajiv Sharad Joshi |
| author_sort | Rajiv Sharad Joshi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Dermal melanophages are a common histopathological finding in several inflammatory skin diseases and may be seen even in clinically normal-looking skin. Clinically hyperpigmented and hypopigmented conditions as well as nonpigmented lesions show melanophages which cannot always be correlated with the clinical appearance of the lesion biopsied. No literature exists to help assess the significance of dermal melanophages in inflammatory diseases and correlate their presence with the pathophysiology of the disease biopsied. Methodology: This is a retrospective study of 100 skin biopsies in patients with brown skin, which had mentioned dermal melanophages in the histopathological report. A simple-to-use semi-objective scale (score of 3–10) was used to assess the score of the dermal melanophages. This was done by a dermatopathologist who was blinded to the clinical and histopathological diagnoses. A correlation of the dermal melanophage score was attempted with the clinical/histological diagnoses and known pathogenesis of the diseases. Results: A variety of skin diseases were included in this study which could be broadly grouped into hypopigmented (10 cases, average scores 4), nonpigmented interface diseases (20 cases, average score 6.66), miscellaneous nonpigmented dermatosis (17 cases, average scores 5.3), and hyperpigmented (53). The hyperpigmented group was subdivided into those that were known to show predominantly epidermal melanin (13 cases, average score 4.58) and those who have predominantly dermal melanin following interface dermatitis (29 cases, average score 8.67) and dermal melanosis without interface dermatitis (11 cases, average score 6.18). Conclusions: This scale can be used to determine the significance of dermal melanophages in inflammatory skin diseases. Scores >6 suggest hyperpigmentary conditions due to the presence of dermal melanophages. Low scores of 3–5 are not significant and are seen in epidermal hypermelanoses, hypopigmented conditions, and other varied nonpigmented dermatoses. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:56:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4a0d1d623a284043aa8c03a4684bccb5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2349-6029 2349-6029 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:56:21Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Indian Journal of Dermatopathology and Diagnostic Dermatology |
| spelling | doaj.art-4a0d1d623a284043aa8c03a4684bccb52022-12-22T03:09:39ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Dermatopathology and Diagnostic Dermatology2349-60292349-60292018-01-0151343810.4103/ijdpdd.ijdpdd_11_18Description of a proposed simple semi-objective histological scale for the assessment of dermal melanophages in inflammatory skin diseasesRajiv Sharad JoshiBackground: Dermal melanophages are a common histopathological finding in several inflammatory skin diseases and may be seen even in clinically normal-looking skin. Clinically hyperpigmented and hypopigmented conditions as well as nonpigmented lesions show melanophages which cannot always be correlated with the clinical appearance of the lesion biopsied. No literature exists to help assess the significance of dermal melanophages in inflammatory diseases and correlate their presence with the pathophysiology of the disease biopsied. Methodology: This is a retrospective study of 100 skin biopsies in patients with brown skin, which had mentioned dermal melanophages in the histopathological report. A simple-to-use semi-objective scale (score of 3–10) was used to assess the score of the dermal melanophages. This was done by a dermatopathologist who was blinded to the clinical and histopathological diagnoses. A correlation of the dermal melanophage score was attempted with the clinical/histological diagnoses and known pathogenesis of the diseases. Results: A variety of skin diseases were included in this study which could be broadly grouped into hypopigmented (10 cases, average scores 4), nonpigmented interface diseases (20 cases, average score 6.66), miscellaneous nonpigmented dermatosis (17 cases, average scores 5.3), and hyperpigmented (53). The hyperpigmented group was subdivided into those that were known to show predominantly epidermal melanin (13 cases, average score 4.58) and those who have predominantly dermal melanin following interface dermatitis (29 cases, average score 8.67) and dermal melanosis without interface dermatitis (11 cases, average score 6.18). Conclusions: This scale can be used to determine the significance of dermal melanophages in inflammatory skin diseases. Scores >6 suggest hyperpigmentary conditions due to the presence of dermal melanophages. Low scores of 3–5 are not significant and are seen in epidermal hypermelanoses, hypopigmented conditions, and other varied nonpigmented dermatoses.http://www.ijdpdd.com/article.asp?issn=2349-6029;year=2018;volume=5;issue=1;spage=34;epage=38;aulast=JoshiDermal melanophagesdermal melanosesepidermal hypermelanosesfrictional melanosisidiopathic eruptive macular pigmentationlichen planus pigmentosus |
| spellingShingle | Rajiv Sharad Joshi Description of a proposed simple semi-objective histological scale for the assessment of dermal melanophages in inflammatory skin diseases Indian Journal of Dermatopathology and Diagnostic Dermatology Dermal melanophages dermal melanoses epidermal hypermelanoses frictional melanosis idiopathic eruptive macular pigmentation lichen planus pigmentosus |
| title | Description of a proposed simple semi-objective histological scale for the assessment of dermal melanophages in inflammatory skin diseases |
| title_full | Description of a proposed simple semi-objective histological scale for the assessment of dermal melanophages in inflammatory skin diseases |
| title_fullStr | Description of a proposed simple semi-objective histological scale for the assessment of dermal melanophages in inflammatory skin diseases |
| title_full_unstemmed | Description of a proposed simple semi-objective histological scale for the assessment of dermal melanophages in inflammatory skin diseases |
| title_short | Description of a proposed simple semi-objective histological scale for the assessment of dermal melanophages in inflammatory skin diseases |
| title_sort | description of a proposed simple semi objective histological scale for the assessment of dermal melanophages in inflammatory skin diseases |
| topic | Dermal melanophages dermal melanoses epidermal hypermelanoses frictional melanosis idiopathic eruptive macular pigmentation lichen planus pigmentosus |
| url | http://www.ijdpdd.com/article.asp?issn=2349-6029;year=2018;volume=5;issue=1;spage=34;epage=38;aulast=Joshi |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rajivsharadjoshi descriptionofaproposedsimplesemiobjectivehistologicalscalefortheassessmentofdermalmelanophagesininflammatoryskindiseases |