Acanthosis Definition — MFDS Part 1 MCQ

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EasyOral PathologyAcanthosis DefinitionMFDS Part 1

In oral mucosal histopathology, the term acanthosis denotes:

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Correct answer: B — Thickening of the spinous (prickle cell) layer of the epithelium

Explanation lettering: D = shown as A · A = shown as B · B = shown as C · E = shown as D · C = shown as E

A is correct. Acanthosis is epithelial thickening caused by an increased thickness of the stratum spinosum, also called the spinous or prickle cell layer. It is a descriptive histopathological change rather than a diagnosis. Thinning of the epithelium is epithelial atrophy, while loss or reduction of the granular layer is hypogranulosis. Separation of epithelial keratinocytes is acantholysis, which results from loss of intercellular adhesion and is classically associated with disorders such as pemphigus vulgaris. Invasion of the underlying connective tissue by atypical epithelial cells is a feature of invasive epithelial malignancy, not acanthosis.

Reference: Nautiyal M, Vadivel JK, Ramalingam K. Prevalence of Keratosis in the Oral Cavity: A Clinical Retrospective Study. Introduction. 2024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38347988/