ABD Dermatopathology study guide
ABD Dermatopathology · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Dermatopathology Subspecialty Certification Exam is administered by the American Board of Dermatology, which describes itself as one of the 24 medical specialty boards making up the American Board of Medical Specialties. Founded in 1932 and based in Newton, Massachusetts, the ABD states its mission as serving the public and the profession by setting high standards for dermatologists to earn and maintain board certification. The ABD Dermatopathology study guide has 5 sections and about 1,563 words.
01Inflammatory and Reactive Dermatoses: Pattern Recognition and Pitfalls
Inflammatory dermatopathology rewards a fixed algorithm: identify the reaction pattern at low power, then the dominant cell type, then distribution (superficial vs deep, perivascular vs periadnexal vs interstitial), then specific clues. The six patterns in the blueprint are interface, spongiotic, psoriasiform, vesiculobullous, granulomatous, and vasculopathic.
325 words, about 2 min02Melanocytic Lesions and Melanoma: Architecture, Measurement, and Mimics
Melanocytic lesions are judged first on architecture: symmetry, circumscription, lateral borders, maturation with depth, and whether single melanocytes are consumed by the epidermis. Only then judge cytology.
316 words, about 2 min03Keratinocytic, Adnexal, and Other Epithelial Neoplasms
Actinic keratosis shows basal atypia with parakeratosis; full-thickness atypia is squamous carcinoma in situ, and invasion is defined by dermal extension, not adnexal involvement. Keratoacanthoma is a crateriform, symmetric proliferation with glassy cytoplasm and a neutrophilic crust; it can be indistinguishable from well-differentiated squamous carcinoma, so report margins and state the uncertainty.
291 words, about 1 min04Lymphoid, Hematopoietic, and Histiocytic Infiltrates of Skin
Dense dermal infiltrates require low-power pattern recognition: top-heavy and band-like suggests T-cell, bottom-heavy and nodular with germinal centers suggests B-cell, and interstitial or periadnexal patterns suggest other lineages. Then assess epidermotropism, cell size, and atypia.
297 words, about 1 min05Soft Tissue, Vascular, and Neural Tumors plus Diagnostic Techniques
Hemangiomas show well-formed vessels with bland endothelium. Angiosarcoma shows dissecting atypical endothelial channels and hobnail cells, with CD31, ERG, and CD34 positivity; radiation-associated cases show MYC amplification.
334 words, about 2 min