CHRONIC SOLAR DERMATOSIS - A LIGHT AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF DERMIS

[摘要] A light and electron microscopic study of the dermis in chronic solar dermatosis showed that there are changes in collagen, reticular and elastic fibers, which lead to a great reduction in the amount of organized fibrous tissue present in the dermis. The collagen fibrils, which are normally formed by tightly-packed, strictly-aligned filaments, are degraded, with the release of the filaments to form disoriented, orceinophilic masses. The reticular fibers are similarly changed. There is hypertrophy and dispersion of the elastic fibers which have degraded collagen and ground substance included in their substance. The orceinophilic masses in chronic solar dermatosis are formed from both degraded collagen and altered elastin, frequently in combination. Changes in the dermal blood vessels are described which indicate that the nutrition of the dermis and epidermis may be impaired. The relationship between the dermal changes of chronic solar dermatosis and cutaneous malignancy is discussed.