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Actinic Keratosis

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Ophthalmology

  • 67 Accesses

Synonyms

Actinic cheilitis (AK on the lips); Senile hyperkeratosis; Senile keratosis; Solar keratosis

Definition

Actinic keratosis (AK) is a common skin lesion usually presenting as small, rough, scaly erythematous macules or papules on sun-exposed parts of the body. It is a precursor form of squamous cell carcinoma.

Etiology

AKs are caused by cumulative UV exposure, most commonly in the form of sunlight. UV rays induce mutation of the tumor-suppressor gene P53, and subsequent proliferation of the mutated atypical epidermal keratinocytes can develop into AK.

Clinical Presentation

AKs are small (usually 0.2–0.6 cm) and range in color from flesh colored or pink to slightly hyperpigmented (yellow brown). They are found frequently with a superimposed scale or hyperkeratosis that is rough upon touch and tender for the individual. AKs are found on sun-exposed parts of the body, commonly the face, forearms, dorsum of hands, eyelids, lower legs, and the balding scalp and tops of the ears....

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References

  • Berger TG (2014) Chapter 6: Dermatologic disorders. In: Papadakis MA, McPhee SJ, Rabow MW (eds) Current medical diagnosis & treatment 2014. McGraw-Hill, New York

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  • Bolognia J, Jorizzo JL, Schaffer JV (2012) Dermatology. Elsevier Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 1773–1798

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  • Usatine RP, Smith MA, Chumley HS, Mayeaux EJ Jr (2013) Chapter 166, Actinic keratosis and bowen disease. In: The color atlas of family medicine, 2nd edn. McGraw-Hill, New York

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hospital & Health Care, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, 2300 Eye Street NW, Washington, DC, USA

    Sojung Yi

Authors
  1. Sojung Yi
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Correspondence to Sojung Yi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Ophthal & Optometry,AKH, Medical University of Wien Dept of Ophthal & Optometry,AKH, Wien, Austria

    Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main Department of Ophthalmology, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Thomas Kohnen

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Yi, S. (2014). Actinic Keratosis. In: Schmidt-Erfurth, U., Kohnen, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Ophthalmology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35951-4_934-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35951-4_934-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-35951-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

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