CHAPTER 4 OBTAINING A DIAGNOSTIC BIOPSY 39
TABLE 4.2.Common Histopathologic Terminology
Term Meaning
Acanthosis Increased thickness of epidermis (epidermal hyperplasia); often noted with
chronic inflammation
Acantholysis Loss of adhesion of keratinocytes (acantholytic keratinocytes); often due to
autoimmune diseases such as pemphigus foliaceus; may also be seen in
inflammatory disease
Amyloid Hyaline, amorphous, eosinophilic material
Apoptosis Individual premature keratinocyte death
Atrophy, epidermal Thin epidermis; often associated with corticosteroid use
Ballooning degeneration Koilocytosis, swollen cytoplasm without vacuolization; characteristic of
viral infection
Bullae Fluid-filled acellular spaces within or below the epidermis (vesicles are
smaller bulla)
Cholesterol clefts Appear as clear spicule-shaped spaces; often seen with xanthomatosis,
panniculitis, and ruptured follicular cysts
Civatte bodies Apoptotic cells in the stratum basale of the epidermis
Clefts Slit-like spaces within the epidermis or dermoepidermal junction; caused by
acantholysis, hydropic degeneration of basal cells, or processing artifacts
Collagenolysis Denatured collagen, homogeneous, eosinophilic, often attracts
mineralization
Crust Surface accumulation of epidermal cells, serum proteins, RBCs, WBCs
Dermoepidermal junction Interface between epidermis and dermis
Dell Small depression on the surface of the epidermis
Desmoplasia Fibroplasia induced by neoplasia
Diapedesis RBCs within the intercellular spaces of the epidermis; implies loss of
vascular integrity
Dyskeratosis Premature faulty keratinization; may be seen with neoplasia or
keratinization disorders
Dystrophic mineralization Deposits of calcium along collagen fibers
Exocytosis Migration of inflammatory cells, RBCs, or both into intercellular spaces
Fibroplasia Increased amounts of fibrous tissue
Fibrosis Advanced fibroplasia, thick parallel strands of collagen; characteristic of
acral lick dermatitis
Flame figures Areas of altered collagen surrounded by eosinophilic material, see
collagenolysis; often noted with eosinophilic granulomas, also called
excessive trichilemmal keratinization
Grenz zone Marginal zone of collagen that separates the epidermis from an underlying
dermal alteration; often seen in neoplastic and granulomatous disorders
(Cont.)