Dermatopathology 1490157 221874967 2008-06-26T13:57:23Z Emmanuelm 292957 /* External links */ edit link to an informative subpage '''Dermatopathology''' is a subspecialty of [[surgical pathology]] interested in [[skin]] diseases. Dermatopathologists work in close association with [[dermatologist]]s. In fact, many doctors master both specialties. Dermatopatholgy is the study of skin disease at a microscopic level. It encompasses both the diagnosis of individual patients through the examination of skin biopsies, and the study of the causes, or pathogenesis of skin diseases at the cellular level. Dermatologists recognize most skin diseases based on their appearance, distribution on the body and behaviour with time. Occasionally, these criteria are not enough and a skin [[biopsy]] is taken to be examined under the [[microscope]]. This microscopic examination reveals the [[histology]] of the disease and clarifies the [[diagnosis]]. Occasionally, additional testing needs to be performed on skin samples, such as immunofluorescence, electron microscopy or flow cytometry. One of the greatest challenges of dermatopathology is the high number of different skin diseases. There are an estimated 1500 different [[rashes]] and skin [[tumors]], including variants, and not one doctor who has seen them all. Therefore, dermatology and dermatopathology are among the most complex specialties of [[Medicine]]. Certification in dermatopathology in the United States requires the completion of four years of medical school, followed by residency training of three years in either dermatology or anatomic pathology. Following that, an additional one to two years of dermatopathology training are completed. For trainees with a background in Pathology, the training includes the equivalent of 6 months of clinical dermatology, and for those whose training is in Dermatology, six months of training in Pathology are requisite. Dermatopathology is considered the most competitive fellowship in Pathology. In the United States, he(she) is first certified by the American Board of Pathology or [[dermatology]], or the American Osteopathic Board of Pathology or Dermatology, then obtains subspecialty board certification in dermatopathology. Since 2003, the International Board of Dermatopathology certifies candidates from countries other than the United States by a test given in Europe. ==See also== *[[Pathology]] *[[Anatomical pathology]] *[[Surgical pathology]] *[[Dermatology]] *[[Skin]] ==External links== * [http://www.asdp.org/ American Society of Dermatopathology] web site * [http://www.intsocdermpath.org/ International Society of Dermatopathology] web site *[http://dermatlas.med.jhmi.edu/derm/ The Johns Hopkins University DermAtlas] * [http://omni.ac.uk/cgi/biome-search/search.cgi?batch_size=10&formtype=simple&term=dermatopathology&zport=2170 Omni's dermatopathology links] * [http://www.skincancer.com/display.asp?catid=26&pageid=339 What is dermatopathology?] from SkinCancer.com {{pathology}} [[Category:Anatomical pathology]] {{Pathology-stub}}