Submicroscopic aspects of the keratinization, dyskeratinization and acantholysis of fogo selvagem.

Histopathological, cytomorphological and electron microscopic analyses in a case of fogo selvagem are reported. Contradictory to the light microscopical findings, the acantholysis as seen with the electron microscope involves the basal layer but not the subcorneal layers--at least not the most superficial part of the granular layer. A conspicuous disintegration of the tonofilament-desmosome complexes give rise to the concomitant dyskeratosis. This aberrant process, including an association between retracing tonofilaments and defective Odland bodies, results in the terminal stage of monstrous defective and specific keratohyalin. In cytoplasm, target-like structures similar to virions of the herpes virus group were observed. The dynamics of the pathological process is discussed.