title: Polarized Microscopy in Lesions With Altered Dermal Collagen.
abstract: Alterations in dermal collagen are noted in dermatofibroma, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, morphea, lichen sclerosus et atrophicus, hypertrophic scars, and keloids. The authors sought to determine whether variations in birefringence of collagen by polarized microscopy could be of help in diagnosing such conditions. Representative hematoxylin and eosin sections of 400 cases, including dermatofibroma, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, hypertrophic scars, keloid, morphea, and lichen sclerosus, were examined under polarized microscopy. Distinct patterns of birefringence of collagen for each disease were noted under polarized microscopy. This study highlights the use of polarized microscopy as adjunctive tool in differentiating different diseases with collagen alteration.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Dermatology, Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, New York, NY; †Dermatology Department, Kasr Alainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; ‡Department of Dermatology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Piscataway, NJ; and §Department of Dermatology, The Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
authors.forename: Amira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elbendary
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valdebran
authors.forename: Kruti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Parikh
authors.forename: Dirk M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Elston
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D018223:Dermatofibrosarcoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D024022:Fibrillar Collagens / Q000032:analysis*; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007627:Keloid; D018459:Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012594:Scleroderma, Localized; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D024022:Fibrillar Collagens