title: Dyskeratotic degeneration of epidermal cells in pityriasis rosea: light and electron microscopic studies.
abstract: We studied biopsies from twenty-nine patients with pityriasis rosea. All specimens showed features of subacute or chronic dermatitis as previously reported, but sixteen cases (55%) had dyskeratotic cells within the epidermis. Ultrastructurally, these cells contained an aggregation of tonofilaments, many vacuoles and intracytoplasmic desmosomes. Previously, only non-specific histological changes had been described in pityriasis rosea, but the presence of dyskeratotic cells seems to be a significant feature.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004817:Epidermis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D010915:Pityriasis / Q000473:pathology*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D007633:Keratins