FC Derm (SA) Part I

THE COLLEGES OF MEDICINE OF SOUTH AFRICA

Incorporated Association not for gain Reg No 1955/000003/08

Part I Examination for the Fellowship of the College of Dermatologists of South Africa 27 March 2012 Paper 1 (3 hours)
All questions to be answered. Each question to be answered in a separate book (or books if more than one is required for the one answer)

Write notes on a) Embryology of the epidermis. b) Meissners corpuscle. c) Desmosomes. d) Odland Bodies.

(10) (5) (5) (5) [25]

A patient with borderline leprosy presents with constitutional symptoms of fever, arthritis, and painful nodules on his arms and legs. a) Discuss the immunopathologic process taking place. (5) b) Discuss the pathogenesis of this process. (20) [25] Discuss a) The role of heat shock proteins in chronic inflammation. b) The role of vasoactive amines and TNF alpha. Study the electron micrograph below

(15) (10) [25]

a)

Describe and illustrate diagrammatically in detail the ultrastructure highlighted by the text box in the above photomicrograph. (15) PTO/Page -2- Question 4b).....

-2b) Briefly discuss direct immunoflourescence testing and its relevance to clinical dermatology. (10) [25]

FC Derm (SA) Part I

THE COLLEGES OF MEDICINE OF SOUTH AFRICA

Incorporated Association not for gain Reg No 1955/000003/08

Part I Examination for the Fellowship of the College of Dermatologists of South Africa 28 March 2012 Paper 2 (3 hours)
All questions are to be answered. Each question to be answered in a separate book (or books if more than one is required for the one answer)

Write notes on a) Epidermal melanin unit. b) Catagen hair. c) Merkel cell. d) Sebaceous glands and their relevance to cutaneous disease.

(7) (5) (5) (8) [25]

2 Discuss a) The complement cascade. b) Different types of pigment in the skin. (15) (10) [25]

a)

b)

A 17-year-old female presents with nodules on her elbows, the histology of which is reported as calcinosis cutis. Discuss your understanding of this term and provide a broad outline of the pathology of this condition and the disease correlations. (10) You receive a pathology report of granulomatous inflammation on a skin biopsy of a HIV positive patient that you sent to the laboratory. i) What is granulomatous inflammation? (5) ii) The pathologist advises that you should provide clinicopathological correlation to make a final diagnosis. Discuss your approach providing the distinguishing features of conditions (diseases) to achieve the above. (10) [25]

Write notes on the following a) Regulation of vitamin D formation and its physiological significance.(10) b) The role of oncoviruses and apoptosis in tumorigenesis. (15) [25]

-2-

FC Derm (SA) Part I

THE COLLEGES OF MEDICINE OF SOUTH AFRICA

Incorporated Association not for gain Reg No 1955/000003/08

Part I Examination for the Fellowship of the College of Dermatologists of South Africa 29 March 2012 Paper 3 (3 hours)

All questions are to be answered. Each question to be answered in a separate book (or books if more than one is required for the one answer)

Write notes on a) Regional variation of the skin and its clinical relevance. (7) b) Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain. (5) c) Glomus cells and clinical relevance. (5) d) Histology of sun damaged skin including collagen alterations seen in a fair skinned octogenarian. (8) [25] Discuss a) Factors that affect wound healing. b) The difference between a keloid and a hypertrophic scar. c) Dysplasia. d) Vitamin C deficiency. e) Complications of radiation therapy.

(5) (5) (5) (5) (5) [25]

a) b) c)

Discuss the wavelengths of UV light and their effects on the skin. (15) Explain how thymine dimers are formed. (6) Write short notes on the enzyme defect(s) in porphyria cutanea tarda and the clinical presentation thereof. (4) [25] Explain the difference between a mutation and polymorphism. (5) The control of body temperature and its role in health. (15) Write short notes on the principles of the PCR (Polymerase chain reaction). (5) [25]

a) b) c)