Richard J. Reed, M.D., New Orleans, LA 70125 (July 1, 2005)

This site consists of a collection of 17 sections; each section is comprised of multiple chapters. Some of the chapters are textual and some are pictorials with textual legends. In a basic approach, attention is given to the reaction patterns of inflammation. In turn, disorders, that are commonly considered by fellows, residents, clinicians, and some dermatopathologists to be unique, specific diseases, are grouped among the sections, not by similarities of names, genetic alterations, immunohistochemical reactions, or etiology, but by shared images that have relevance for basic reaction patterns. If the reader knows which general category is relevant to his needs, he might go to the DIRECTORY and then select the appropriate section. In this approach, the basic reaction patterns include at least three variants of lichenoid reactions, spongiotic and psoriasiform reactions, vesiculobullous disorders, vasculitides, inflammatory reactions of the dermal interstitium (the collagenoses), the panniculitides, infectious disorders, and granulomatous disorders. In addition, a borderland at the interface between neoplasia and inflammation is included. In addressing the options, the reader alternately has the option to return to the folder on the CD and then double click the appropriate file by selecting the respective file name (i.e., index1, etc.). The relationships between the file names and the reaction patterns can be found in the DIRECTORY. For example, a double click on file, index 2, provides access to spongiotic and psoriasiform dermatitides.

As yet another alternative, the reader, from the list below, can access one of two sections by clicking on one of the two underlined items. The underlined items are indexextr and indexdir (Section 16 and SECTION DIRECTORY respectively at the end of the column). Indexextr will take the reader to a section that is designed to acquaint the reader with the structural peculiarities of this site. Indexdir will take the reader to a directory that provides access to all of the sections. If in progressive movements among the sections; the reader is presented with an empty screen, the reader probably has encountered a broken link. The reader might then use the browser’s BACK button to return to the DIRECTORY and to then select the desired section.

Basic categories include (please note that only items 16 & 17 of this section [two items that are underlined] are linked to other sections):

1. general aspects of inflammation (SECTION 1; index1)

2. the spongiotic and psoriasiform disorders (SECTION 2; index2)

3. the lichen planus-like disorders, including lichen planus (SECTION 3; index3)

4. the erythema multiforme-like and pityriasic lichenoid disorders (SECTION 4; index4)

5. the lupus erythematosus-like lichenoid disorders (SECTION 5; index5)

6. vesiculobullous disorders (category1) (SECTION 6; index6)

7, additional vesiculobullous disorders (SECTON 7; index7)

8. vasculitides (SECTION 8; index8)

9. collagenoses (SECTION 9; index9)

10. panniculitides (SECTION 10; index10)

11. infections (SECTION 11; index11)

12. granulomatous disorders, including various histiocytoses and xanthogranulomas (SECTION 12; index12)

13. borderline disorders (part 1) (SECTION 13; index13)

14. clinical iconography (SECTION 14; index14)

15. borderline disorders (part 2) (SECTION 15; index15)

16. site diagram (correlation of structure with navigation) (SECTION 16; indexextr)

17. directory (a base from which to navigate to other SECTIONS (SECTION DIRECTORY; indexdir).