Dermatopathologists - Bethesda, MD

What is Dermatopathology?

Dermatopathology is a medical subspecialty involving the study and diagnosis of skin disorders. This subspecialty combines dermatology (study of the skin) and pathology (study of disease). Dermatopathologists are pathologists or anatomical dermatologists who complete an additional year of specialized dermatopathology training. Unlike patient-facing dermatologists, the majority of dermatopathologists' work is performed in a laboratory setting where they may employ advanced equipment and testing methods to thoroughly review skin samples. Dermatopathologists may evaluate patient samples from a specific health center, or review specimens referred from other clinics. Conditions a dermatopathologist may diagnose include:

Melanocytic lesions, such as melanoma (skin cancer) and non-cancerous skin discoloration disorders like vitiligo
Lymphoproliferative diseases, an abnormal growth of white blood cells
Cutaneous lymphoma, a type of cancer that attacks the skin
Immune and genetic disorders which impact the skin, such as alopecia (patchy hair loss)
Epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a disease which causes skin fragility and blisters

If a biopsy feature or irregularity signals a specific condition, dermatopathologists may then diagnose patients and advise suitable treatments. Dermatopathologists use the following methods, among others, to detect disease:

Immunohistochemistry, where dyed antibodies added to a sample which may indicate the presence of a disease if the sample's antigens react
Immunofluorescence, where fluorescent dyed antibodies can reveal antigens and cell traits
Electron microscopy, which uses electrons to image the skin tissue and cell structure

Dermatopathologists are physicians who specialize in dermatology and complete additional years of training in pathology. They may collaborate with dermatologists, pediatric dermatologists, dermatologic surgeons, hematopathologists, pathologists, and laboratory technicians.