Dermpath Case Challenge: Recognizing Mimics and Masqueraders

The Dermpath Case Challenge presented a series of cases focusing on recognizing dermatological mimics and masqueraders. The audience included dermatopathologists, clinicians, and trainees, highlighting the importance of understanding both clinical and pathological nuances. One case featured a 39-year-old male with pink-red plaques and focal erosions, which led to a diagnosis of necrolytic acrodermatitis linked to his hepatitis C. This condition mimics psoriasis but is typically unresponsive to steroids, requiring zinc supplementation for treatment. Another case involved diffuse dermal angiomatosis in a 63-year-old female, initially raising concerns about calciphylaxis due to the lower extremity ulcerations, but was ultimately associated with severe atherosclerotic disease. Key histopathological features across cases included epidermal pallor and parakeratosis, suggesting nutritional deficiencies or pathological processes like reactive angioendotheliomatosis. The presentation emphasized the significance of clinical history in conjunction with histological findings to accurately diagnose and treat dermatological conditions that can often resemble one another.