Diagnosis: Spider bite
Description: Histology
Morphology: Necrosis and infarction
Site: Buttocks
Sex: M
Age: 57
Type: Clinical & Histology
Submitted By: Ian McColl
Differential DiagnosisHistory:
Spider bites cause intense local discomfort and swelling followed by varying degrees of tissue necrosis dependent on the amount of venom injected and the species of spider.Histology shows a neutrophilic infiltrate early followed by necrosis of the epidermis adnexal structures and the superficial dermis.Some bites may cause a large vessel vasculitis accentuating the tissue damage.Healing may take weeks and necessitate plastic surgery removal and repair of the necrotic tissue.Antibiotics help prevent secondary infection and tetanus immune status should be updated.
PubMed search of White tailed spider bites.
University of Melbourne article