Dermatopathology

Primary Pathology Diagnosis and Consultative Case Reviews

Stanford’s Dermatopathology Service reads the full range of wet tissue and slide consult cases. In addition to the expert diagnosis provided by our Dermatopathologists, challenging cases are often shared among other faculty members in Surgical Pathology, Soft Tissue Pathology, and Hematopathology, ensuring that the patient’s diagnosis is made with consideration of a team of experts.

Biopsies for Alopecia

Stanford Dermatopathology provides interpretation of scalp biopsies for alopecia. Such biopsies are embedded horizontally and examined according to an alopecia protocol. The diagnostic yield of a horizontally embedded scalp biopsy is far superior that gleaned from a vertically embedded specimen. When submitting a biopsy to assess the type of alopecia, please check the appropriate box on our requisition or write the word “alopecia” in a prominent position on the page.

Consult Cases

To submit slides for case review, please complete a Stanford requisition and include all slides, relevant reports, and ancillary testing materials and reports. If possible, please include a block, as it will greatly speed the finalization of the case should additional testing be necessary. Package all materials securely and send via a padded envelope.

Though not necessary, we strongly encourage the submission of clinical photographs of patients who undergo biopsy for a rash or who present with unusual pigmented or non-pigmented neoplasms. Electronic submission of digital photographs is simple via our secure email address. This e-mail account is secure and can only be accessed by faculty, fellows and staff in Dermatopathology. Please maintain patient privacy and do not include full facial photographs or patient names in the e-mail.

E-mail: secure-dermpath@lists.stanford.edu

Wet Tissue Specimens

Please submit materials in proper transport media. All samples should be labeled with the patient information (name, DOB and one other unique identifier) and sealed in a biohazard bag. Please submit a signed Stanford requisition with each sample.

Samples and consult materials should be shipped or delivered via courier to:

Stanford Dermatopathology

Immunofluorescence »

We perform direct immunofluorescence for autoimmune and blistering disorders on tissue samples and indirect immunofluorescence on serum. We also perform immunomapping of the basement membrane region for epidermolysis bullosa congenita.

Please submit tissue for direct immunofluorescence in Zeus or Michaels transport medium. Once in transport medium, tissue is stable for several weeks at room temperature and can be picked up or shipped with your routine formalin fixed specimens.

Please submit serum for indirect immunofluorescence in a red top tube. We use monkey esophagus as substrate for our indirect assay.