The Actinic Keratosis A Perspective and Update

Abstract

After studying this article, participant should be able to: 1. Understand the concept of an actinic keratosis. 2. Learn how to recognize its clinical manifestations. 3. Be aware of the danger it poses as an easily curable papulonodule that may become a fatal cancer.

Utility of Step Sections

“…5 It has been suggested that evaluation of multiple sections of a "suspicious" AK might be necessary to rule out invasive SCC. 6 However, there are no published data that help identify particular cases of AK in which deeper sections are most likely to provide additional diagnostic information. To address this need, we conducted a prospective study of specimens histologically diagnosed initially as AK to…”

Solar cheilosis: An ominous precursor

“…[1][2][3] Although SC primarily consists of noninflammatory, sun-induced epidermal neoplastic changes, secondary inflammation in the underlying connective tissue may occur. 4,5 Consistent with these occasionally ambiguous histologic findings, the differential diagnosis of SC includes not only other premalignant, malignant, and metastatic disorders, but also inflammatory, eczematoid, and photosensitive diseases of the lips.…”

Actinic Keratosis: The Key Event in the Evolution from Photoaged Skin to Squamous Cell Carcinoma

“…AK and invasive SCC both contain atypical keratinocytes with loss of polarity, nuclear pleomorphism, disordered maturation, and increased numbers of mitotic figures [18][19][20]. Both share genetic tumor markers and identical p53 gene mutations [21]. It is speculated that repeated exposure to UV radiation throughout childhood and young adulthood trigger the tumor initiation process reflected by p53 mutation [22].…”