Pitted Keratolysis - DermAtlas - Dermatology Image Atlas

Contributor

Greg Hosler, MD, PhD

Diagnosis

pitted keratolysis

Body Site

foot

Age

44 years

Pigmentation

dark

Organization

grouped, clustered

Color

brown

Morphology

pit/sinus

Pattern

acral (centripetal - extremity predominant)

Comments

This specimen was submitted to rule out dermatophytosis. Pitted keratolysis is tyipcally caused by Corynebacterium, less often Micrococcus and Dermatophilus. In this example, numerous coccobacillary and filamentous forms are present in the stratum corneum. The organisms can be highlighted by Gram and silver stains.

Description

In these shavings of stratum corneum, there are numerous coccobacillary-to-filamentous organisms. This is a PAS stain, which does not really stain the organsims but adds good contrast (Gram and silver stains not shown).

Image Added

11/25/2006 16:38:01

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Other Resources

PubMed Medline Plus Medscape

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