Clinicopathological Study of Actinic Keratoses in Korea

Lee, Dong Yoon; Kim, Won Ho; Lee, Ji Yeoun; Kim, Mi Kyoung; Yoon, Tae Young

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Actinic keratoses (Aks) are common precancerous lesions and they affect a great portion of the elderly Caucasian population. Many studies have been conducted on Aks and mainly in Western society. Only a few clinical and histopathological studies of Aks have been conducted in Korea.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and histopathological features of Aks in Koreans.
METHODS
Ninety six patients were enrolled. We reviewed the medical records and the biopsy specimens.
RESULTS
The ratio of males to females was 1:4.05 and the most frequent age groups were the 8th (39.6%) and 9th decade (35.4%). Multiple lesions (53.1%) were more common than single lesion (46.9%). The duration of disease was less than 1 year in many cases (43.8%). The most commonly involved site was the face (82.3%). The color was erythematous in 55.2% of the cases, brownish in 34.4% and dark-brownish in 10.4%. Scale and crust were noted in 33.3% and 24.0% of the cases, respectively. Aks were associated with squamaous cell carcinoma in 12.5% of the cases, basal cell carcinoma in 6.3% and verrucous carcinoma in 2.1%. Histopathologically, the hypertrophic type of Aks was noted in 40.6% of the cases, atrophic in 39.6%, acantholytic in 10.4% and bowenoid in 9.4%. The most common treatment modality was cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen (95.8%).
CONCLUSION
Aks in Koreanse usually presented on the face of elderly females. The lesions were more commonly noted as multiple lesions than single lesion. Various histopathologic types were noted, including the hypertrophic, atrophic, acantholytic and bowenoid subtypes. The greater association with cutaneous malignancies was noted as compared to that in the previous reports. Close follow-up and physical examination are recommended.