Receiving a pinpoint diagnosis
Every patient has unique needs. The most powerful tool we have to make a diagnosis for a patient is clinicopathologic correlation, which combines medical history, physical examination, and pathology to come to a pinpoint diagnosis.
Dermatopathology. A Higher Level of Care
Our practice has physicians trained and board-certified in dermatology, dermatopathology, and Mohs surgery allowing seamless integration of diagnostic information to find the best diagnosis. Once the diagnosis is established, our physicians design and coordinate a treatment plan based on years of experience and training. Our goal is to keep your skin as healthy and beautiful as possible by applying an integrated approach to cutaneous medicine.
What is Dermatopathology?
Dermatopathology is a subspecialty of dermatology that studies skin disease at a microscopic level. It encompasses both the diagnosis of individual patients through the examination of skin biopsies, and the study of the causes of skin diseases at the cellular level. Dermatopathologists work in close association with dermatologists. In fact, many doctors train in both specialties.
Microscopic examination of cells is a critical part of diagnosing skin cancer and other skin disorders, MetroDerm’s dermatopathologist, Dr. Adar Berghoff, and pathologist, Dr. Dino Anastasiades, work closely with all of our dermatologists and Mohs surgeons.
One of the greatest challenges of dermatopathology is the high number of different skin diseases. There are an estimated 1,500 different rashes and skin tumors, including variants. Therefore, dermatology and dermatopathology are among the most complex specialties in medicine. MetroDerm, P.C. is fortunate to have a dermatopathologist and a pathologist as part of its full-time staff. Dermatopathologists and pathologists are not part of all dermatology practices.
How Does Dermatopathology Differ from Dermatology?
A dermatologist is trained in the clinical appearance of diseases related to the hair, skin, and nails. A dermatopathologist examines skin specimens under a microscope and makes diagnoses based on the history provided by the dermatologist and the patterns of cells on the microscope slides. The dermatologist performs skin biopsies and the dermatopathologist reads the microscope slides.
