DIFFUSE HYPERPIGMENTATION OF THE SKIN - A CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL APPROACH TO DIAGNOSIS

There are multiple causes of diffuse hyperpigmentation of the skin (DH P) and determination of the exact etiology can sometimes be difficult, A systematic classification based on both clinical and pathological f indings that should aid the clinician who is confronted with this situ ation is presented in this article. The skin diseases that cause DHP a re classified based on the pigment characteristics (melanin, non melan in), pigment distribution (epidermal, epidermal-dermal, dermal) and de nsity of melanocytes (normal, increased). The intent of this review is to provide a ''histopathological fool'' that increases diagnostic acc uracy in the evaluation of a patient with DHP. Copyright (C) 1997 by W .B. Saunders Company.