title: [Dermatohistology laboratory].
abstract: Dermatohistology plays an essential role in the diagnosis of cutaneous tumors and inflammatory skin diseases. In order to practice dermatohistology properly, one needs not only a well-equipped laboratory but also properly trained dermatohistologists and laboratory technicians. We discuss the establishment of a dermatohistology laboratory. The technical procedures involved in making slides, ranging from traditional H & E stains, through special stains, immunohistochemistry and molecular-biological techniques, are viewed. The importance of clinical-histologic correlation and the limitations of pure histologic diagnostics are demonstrated with illustrative cases.
authors.affiliation: Dermatologisches Labor, Klinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie, Universitätsklinikum der RWTH Aachen, Pauwellsstrasse 30, 52057 Aachen, Deutschland. mmegahed@ukaachen.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Megahed
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kind
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schaller
mesh_terms: D003880:Dermatology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005858:Germany; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006653:Histology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*