Acantholysis

Not to be confused with Acanthosis.
Acantholysis
Classification and external resources

Foot-and-mouth disease. Acantholysis in a sample of a skin vesicle. Necrosis of the stratum spinosum can be observed, and keratinocytes floating in the vesicular fluid (spongiosa).
ICD-10 L11.9 (ILDS L11.900)

Acantholysis is the loss of intercellular connections, such as desmosomes, resulting in loss of cohesion between keratinocytes[1], seen in diseases such as pemphigus vulgaris.[2] It is absent in bullous pemphigoid, making it useful for differential diagnosis.

This histological feature is also seen in herpes simplex infections (HSV 1 and 2).

See also

References

  1. ^ Kumar, Vinay; Fausto, Nelso; Abbas, Abul (2004) Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease (7th ed.). Saunders. Page 1230. ISBN 0-7216-0187-1.
  2. ^ Medical Dictionary Entry
Macroscopic
Primary lesions

flat (Macule, Patch) · elevated (Papule, Nodule, Plaque) · fluid (Vesicle, Bulla, Pustule) · Ulcer · Erosion · Telangiectasia

Special initial lesions : Burrow (Tunnel)  · Comedone · Scutulum · Target lesion · Herald patch  · Wheal
Secondary lesions
Microscopic
Acantholysis
(epidermis)
Other
Pemphigoid
(dermis)
Other bullous
In diseases
classified elsewhere

M: INT, SF, LCT

anat/phys/devp

noco(i/b/d/q/u/r/p/m/k/v/f)/cong/tumr(n/e/d), sysi/epon

proc, drug (D2/3/4/5/8/11)