Histopathologic findings following hemostasis with Gelfoam

Gelfoam, an absorbable gelatin material that can carry thrombin and provide a matrix for the clotting cascade, is commonly used in dermatologic surgery to obtain hemostasis. Gelfoam application is often well tolerated, with minimal surgical site reaction. Gelfoam may be an incidental histopathologic finding following cutaneous surgery, typically without any clinical sequelae. Both dermatologic surgeons and pathologists should be familiar with this histopathologic finding to eliminate confusion and to avoid additional intervention. We present a case of a 76-year-old man with an interesting histopathologic finding of basophilic material predominantly overlying and among keratinocytes in an epithelializing surgical defect that was covered with Gelfoam.