Findings

Note numerous red plaques with thick white scale distributed symmetrically over nearly the entire surface of the trunk and arms.

Impression

Psoriasis

Clinical Pathologic Correlation
Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease of unknown cause. It commonly affects the skin of the elbows, knees, scalp (but not face), lumbosacral areas, intergluteal cleft, and glans penis. Characteristically, the lesions are symmetrically distributed.

Pathology Pointer

Plaques of thickened epidermis (acanthosis) in psoriasis result from increased epidermal cell turnover with elongation of dermal papillae reaching close to the epidermal surface. Plaques are covered with firmly adherent, thick white scale.

Preparation

Fresh

View

Gross photograph

Specimen

Skin

Image Credit

Terence O'Grady, M.D.
Department of Medicine
School of Medicine
University of California, San Diego