A 46-year-old guy arrives at the office with the skin lesions seen in the photo below. After returning from a trip to Hawaii, the patient observed the lesions for the first time a week ago. He has no additional severe rashes or skin abnormalities, although he does have autoimmune thyroiditis. Which of the following would most likely be seen on histopathologic examination of this patient's lesions?

Question

A 46-year-old guy arrives at the office with the skin lesions seen in the photo below. After returning from a trip to Hawaii, the patient observed the lesions for the first time a week ago. He has no additional severe rashes or skin abnormalities, although he does have autoimmune thyroiditis.  Which of the following would most likely be seen on histopathologic examination of this patient's lesions?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Vitiligo is a common skin disorder marked by the loss of epidermal melanocytes. It is more frequent in people with autoimmune illnesses (e.g., autoimmune thyroiditis, type I diabetes) and is characterized by well-defined, variable sized patches of hypopigmentation.

A 46-Year-Old Guy Arrives at the Office with the Skin