Color Atlas of Dermatopathology PDF

Preface

Why one more book on dermatopathology? Certainly there are many outstanding encyclopedic textbooks already written and even recently updated. Why one more atlas? Hopefully you will agree that this book is different. We have tried to pair clinical and histologic photographs to enhance the reader's appreciation for clinical-pathological correlation. In addition, this text is meant to be user friendly whether you are approaching dermatopathology from a background of dermatology or pathology. Herein we hope to share with you our enthusiasm as well as the helpfulness of clinical- pathological as well as pathological-clinical correlation. Ideally after reading through some of our examples, the next time you look through the microscopic oculars at a skin slide, you will ask yourself "how would this lesion look clinically?" Conversely, when you examine a skin lesion or rash in vivo, you will ask yourself "how would this look under the microscope?" Once you ask yourself these questions enough times, it will become automatic and so helpful to you in developing your differential lists, you will be incredulous that you did not always approach dermatopathology and dermatology in this manner.

This book is not meant to be a complete review of all skin diseases. It is meant to try to teach you a different approach to the patient and to the biopsy obtained from a patient's skin. One should always be mindful of the clinical-pathologic corollaries that will help improve your diagnostic acumen. I personally hope that in addition to finding this book educational, you will also have some fun. In the words of A. Bernard Ackerman, dermatopathology is "art in vivo"!

The many authors who have contributed to this volume are the thought leaders in our field. They are scattered geographically but share their continued enjoyment in becoming better dermatopathologists. Some of the authors have been my friends, "classmates," colleagues, and teachers since I began my journey in dermatopathology in 1978! Others are younger and compose the next generation of leaders in dermatopathology. All have brought their enthusiasm to this project for which I am grateful.

I now invite you to "see" skin disease through new oculars! Not only will the journey be fun, but it will make you a better diagnostician whether you treat patients in an office or study slides in a lab.