Topics for General and Systemic Pathology
Find educational topics for General and Systemic Pathology aligned with the Zambian tertiary curriculum.
Pineal Gland Tumors
1 Questions
This topic addresses rare tumors of the pineal gland. Zambian tertiary students in pathology and neurosurgery will learn that the most common pineal region tumors are germ cell tumors (e.g., germinomas), which arise from sequestered embryonic cells. Tumors arising from pineal parenchymal cells are classified as pineoblastomas (malignant, seen in …
Skin: Normal Histology and Immunology
3 Questions
This foundational topic covers the normal histology and immunology of the skin, essential for Zambian tertiary students in dermatology and pathology. You will learn the cellular components of the epidermis (keratinocytes, melanocytes, Langerhans cells) and dermis (fibroblasts, immune cells). The immunology section highlights the skin as an active immune organ, …
Skin: Primary and Secondary Gross Lesions
1 Questions
This topic provides the essential vocabulary for describing skin diseases in clinical and pathological terms. Zambian tertiary students in medicine and dermatology will master the classification of primary lesions (the initial, unmodified appearance of a disease process) such as macules, papules, vesicles, pustules, wheals, and nodules. You will also learn …
Skin Infections: Viral, Bacterial, and Fungal
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This topic covers common infectious diseases of the skin, a major component of dermatology practice. Zambian university students will study viral infections like verrucae (warts caused by HPV) and molluscum contagiosum (poxvirus), bacterial infections such as impetigo (often staph or strep), and superficial fungal infections known as tinea (dermatophyte infections …
Acute Inflammatory Dermatoses: Urticaria and Eczema
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This topic explores acute inflammatory skin conditions mediated by immune responses, focusing on urticaria (hives) and eczematous dermatitis. Zambian tertiary students will learn that urticaria is characterized by localized mast cell degranulation, leading to transient, pruritic wheals (oedematous plaques). Eczema is a clinical pattern with an initial acute phase of …
Chronic Inflammatory Dermatosis: Psoriasis
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This topic focuses on psoriasis, a common, chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease. Zambian university students will learn its characteristic clinical presentation: well-demarcated, erythematous plaques covered with silvery-white scale, typically on extensor surfaces (elbows, knees), scalp, and lumbosacral area. The topic covers its potential associations with arthritis and other systemic conditions. …
Disorders of Epidermal Appendages: Acne Vulgaris
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This topic covers acne vulgaris, a common disorder of the pilosebaceous unit (hair follicle and sebaceous gland). Zambian tertiary students in dermatology and general medicine will learn that it predominantly affects teenagers and is believed to result from physiological hormonal variations and alterations in follicular maturation. The pathological process involves …
Disorders of Pigmentation: Vitiligo and Melasma
2 Questions
This topic examines two important disorders of skin pigmentation with distinct mechanisms: vitiligo and melasma. Zambian university students will study vitiligo, an autoimmune condition characterized by the loss of epidermal melanocytes, leading to asymptomatic, well-demarcated white macules. In contrast, melasma is a condition of hyperpigmentation, presenting as bilateral, blotchy, mask-like …
Melanocytic Lesions: Nevi and Dysplastic Nevi
1 Questions
This topic covers benign melanocytic proliferations, focusing on common acquired nevocellular nevi (moles) and their clinically significant variant, dysplastic nevi. Zambian tertiary students in dermatology and pathology will learn that common moles are uniform, small (<6mm), pigmented macules or papules with regular borders. Dysplastic nevi are larger, often irregular in …