Page 1 - DermPath Correlation

You will access the Dermatology Diploma course via this section of My
Dermpathconsult.
The links will take you to the various components of each module in a sequential
fashion.
Questionnaire no. 89 - Clinicopathological Correlation

Submitted by Dr Ian McColl
Fax Number: 07 5598 0266

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Part 1:

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Clinical Correlation This concept is the new buzzword in dermatopathology. Often the Pathologist
will make a pattern diagnosis and say that clinico pathology correlation is required by the referring
doctor to make the correct diagnosis.This never goes down well with the Dermatologist and even
less with referring GPs. Of course many pattern diagnoses can be broken down further to give
specific diagnoses. Much of this work was developed by the late Bernie Ackerman in his book
Inflammatory Dermatology but there remain many areas where a particular pattern diagnosis can
be seen in clinically morphologically very different conditions. It is these situations that we will
concentrate on in this course so that if clinical images are provided then the pathologist can give a
more considered and accurate diagnosis.

The other way in which the term is used relates to the likeliest pathology seen for various clinical
presentations eg Ulcers on the lower leg or skin coloured papules on the face. These possibilities
will be discussed in the website DermPath Correlations

Soon the standard referral to a Dermatopathologist will include images and hopefully a
standard history summary that will be computer generated.

The Pathologist needs to have a knowledge of dermatology to analyse the history correctly and
provide the likeliest diagnosis. Doing the Dermatology Diploma course should allow you to do this
with confidence.

Generating Differential Diagnoses is important at arriving at the correct diagnosis. The
Mnemonics we use in the Diploma course will make this easier. Knowing if you are dealing with a
Red scaly or Red non scaly, Pustular, Vesicular or Bullous disease allows you to generate clinical
differential diagnoses and apply them to what you are seeing under the microscope. This means
you are less likely to miss histologically a probably relevant clinical differential diagnosis!

Below we will look at particular areas in histopathology where clinical correlation is paramount
in arriving at the correct diagnosis. This will hopefully show you the areas of the Dermatology
Diploma course where you really should spend a lot of time reviewing.