Spongiosis (dermatopathology)

Spongiosis is a dermatopathological descriptive term for intercellular edema in the epidermis. Owing to the edema, the keratinocytes are separated by clearly distinct spaces, which, according to some authors, give the epidermis a spongy appearance. Inflammatory infiltrate (exocytosis) may be present depending on the specific disease and its stage, but its presence is not necessary. Spongiosis can occur in the following dermatitis:


 * acute and subacute dermatitis:
 * allergic contact dermatitis,
 * irritative contact dermatitis,
 * endogenous eczemas (atopic eczema, dermatitis dyshidrotica, Eczema nummulare),
 * chronic dermatitis:
 * lichen simplex chronicus,
 * pityriasis rosea,
 * dermatophytoses,
 * lichen striatus,
 * stasis dermatitis.

Related articles

 * Histopathological changes in the skin
 * Histopathological changes in the skin/PGS