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Langerhans cell collections, but not eosinophils, are clues to a diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis in appropriate skin biopsies
Author(s) -
Rosa Gabriela,
Fernandez Anthony P.,
Vij Alok,
Sood Apra,
Plesec Thomas,
Bergfeld Wilma F.,
Billings Steven D.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of cutaneous pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1600-0560
pISSN - 0303-6987
DOI - 10.1111/cup.12707
Subject(s) - patch test , medicine , eosinophil , dermatology , contact dermatitis , allergic contact dermatitis , allergy , biopsy , pathology , immunology , asthma
Background Langerhans cell collections ( LCCs ) and eosinophils are traditionally considered histologic clues to allergic contact dermatitis ( ACD ), but rigorous histologic analyses are limited. We correlated the presence of LCCs and eosinophils in skin biopsies with patch test results in patients evaluated for ACD . Methods Charts of all patients patch tested and biopsied at one institution from 2011 to 2013 were reviewed. Biopsies had to have a diagnosis of either spongiotic dermatitis, psoriasiform dermatitis or mixed psoriasiform/spongiotic dermatitis. Various histologic parameters were assessed, including the presence of LCCs and number of eosinophils. Design A total of 68 biopsies met study criteria. Of these, 27 (40%) had ≥1 LCC . Twenty‐one out of 27 (78%) with ≥1 LCC were patch test positive; 6 were patch test negative (22%). Of 41 cases with no LCCs , 23 were patch test positive (23/41, 56%) and 18 were patch test negative (18/41, 44%). LCCs were significantly more common in patch test positive patients (p = 0.046). Eosinophil count did not significantly differ in patch test positive and negative cases (p = 0.216). Conclusion LCCs are significantly more common in patch test positive cases. There were no differences with regards to presence of eosinophils between patch test positive and negative groups.