Study of Histopathological Spectrum of Skin Lesions at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: The skin, being the largest organ of the body, plays a critical role in protection, temperature regulation, and sensation. Accurate diagnosis of skin disorders is essential because many different skin conditions can present with similar clinical symptoms, such as redness, itching, or scaling. However, the underlying causes of these conditions may differ significantly, ranging from infections to autoimmune diseases or genetic disorders. Histopathological examination, an invaluable diagnostic tool in dermatology. This method is particularly important in distinguishing between conditions with overlapping clinical features, ensuring that patients receive the correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based study was conducted in a tertiary-level hospital in Gujarat over a 12-month period. During this period, a total of 300 skin biopsy samples were received. For each patient, relevant medical history was obtained, including presenting symptoms, previous treatments, and any other pertinent clinical or laboratory investigations. This information helped to correlate clinical findings with histopathological results. All skin biopsies routinely processed and histopathological examination was done for each biopsy. Results: Out of 300 biopsies, 60% were from male patients while it was 40% from female patients, with a male: female ratio of 1.5:1 showing male predominance. Most common histological spectrum was Dermatitis (28%), then lepromatous leprosy (58.8%) was most commonly reported among the leprosy (27.3%). Then pemphigus vulgaris (49%) was the most commonly encountered vesicobullous lesions (25.7). Conclusion: In this study, a total of 300 skin biopsies were analyzed over a one-year period at the Department of Pathology at a tertiary healthcare center. The study observed that skin lesions were more prevalent in younger age groups, with 50% of cases occurring in individuals under 40 years old. The present study observed a preponderance of skin lesions in males, with 60% of cases being diagnosed in the male population.