**Acknowledgements**

*Depigmentation*

**Table 1.**

**Table 2.**

*Vitiligo histological scoring system.*

*Final recommended diagnostic categories based on score.*

**S. no. Histological feature Criteria**

1 Spongiosis Presence of at least one focus showing intercellular oedema in the

3 Basal cell vacuolation Presence of at least one focus showing basal cell degeneration in the form of vacuolation 4 Melanophages Presence of at least one focus in the superficial reticular dermis showing melanophages

*Histomorphological criteria for spongiosis, epidermal lymphocytes, basal cell vacuolation and melanophages.*

**S. no. Histological feature Observation Score** Spongiosis Present/absent 1/0 Epidermal lymphocytes Present/absent 1/0 Basal vacuolation Present/absent 1/0 Dermal lymphocytes >100 Present/absent 1/0 Melanophages Present/absence 1/0

epidermis 2 Epidermal lymphocytes Presence of at least one lymphocyte in the epidermis

**26**

diagnosis.

**Table 3.**

**4. Conclusions**

using a scoring system devised by the authors **Table 2**, and the recommended diagnoses based on these scores are shown in **Table 3**. The counting for dermal lymphocytes was done in high power (x400) of a Nikon microscope. The scoring system can be applied to both segmental and non-segmental vitiligo. Adoption of a systematic reporting system brings more consistency and objectivity in the

3. 3 Favours unstable, clinical correlation required 4. 2 Favours stable, clinical correlation required 5. 0–1 Strongly favours stable vitiligo, clinical correlation essential

**S. no. Total score Diagnosis** 1. 5 Unstable vitiligo 2. 4 Unstable vitiligo

Vitiligo is a common skin disorder which is characterized by the presence of depigmented milky white macules of variable sizes. Although there are various theories on its etiopathogenesis, the consensus opinion is that vitiligo occurs due to convergence various pathways. The basic histopathological finding in vitiligo is the absence of functional melanocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis. However, in order to evaluate for stability, the histopathological examination should be primarily focused on evaluating spongiosis, epidermal lymphocytes, basal cell

The author wishes to acknowledge the help provided by Dr. Niti Khunger, Consultant, Dermatology, VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital, and Dr. Pallavi Mishra, Resident, VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital.
