Ann Dermatol.  2011 Oct;23(Suppl 2):S208-S210. 10.5021/ad.2011.23.S2.S208.

Acral-type Malignant Acanthosis Nigricans Associated with Gastric Adenocarcinoma

• Lee SS
• Jung NJ
• Im M
• Lee Y
• Seo YJ
• Lee JH

• KMID: 2156791
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2011.23.S2.S208

Abstract

Acanthosis nigricans is a symmetric eruption characterized by the presence of a hyperpigmented, velvety cutaneous thickening, that can develop on any part of the body, but characteristically affects the flexural areas of the body. The velvety hyperkeratotic lesions can be located on the dorsum of the hands and feet in dark-skinned people in the form of a variant of acanthosis nigricans called as acral acanthotic anomaly or acral type acanthosis nigricans. Although acanthosis nigricans is associated with malignant tumors, particularly gastric carcinoma, acral type acanthosis nigricans has never been reported to be associated with gastric adenocarcinoma. In our present study, we describe a case of 58-year-old man with acral type acanthosis nigricans and its association with carcinoma of the stomach; a marked improvement was seen in the skin condition of the patient with chemotherapy.

Keyword

Acanthosis nigricans; Acral type; Gastric adenocarcinoma

MeSH Terms

Acanthosis Nigricans
Adenocarcinoma
Foot
Hand
Humans
Middle Aged
Skin

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Velvety, ill-defined hyperpigmentation and papillary hypertrophy are seen at the joints of the fingers (A) and toes (B).

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  Fig. 2 The lesion at the finger joint shows hyperkeratosis, papillomatosis, and hyperpigmentation of the basal layer. Some dermal papillae were projected upward in the form of finger-like projections (H&E, ×100).

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  Fig. 3 (A, B) Treatment with anti-cancer chemotherapy improved the skin symptoms of acanthosis nigricans.

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