Late-onset disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis in an elderly woman

Porokeratoses-A Comprehensive Review on the Genetics and Metabolomics, Imaging Methods and Management of Common Clinical Variants

Porokeratosis is a heterogeneous group of keratinising disorders characterised by the presence of particular microscopic structural changes, namely the presence of the cornoid lamella. This structure develops as a consequence of a defective isoprenoid pathway, critical for cholesterol synthesis. Commonly recognised variants include disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis, disseminated superficial porokeratosis, porokeratosis of Mibelli, palmoplantar porokeratosis (including porokeratosis palmaris et plantaris disseminata and punctate porokeratosis), linear porokeratosis, verrucous porokeratosis (also known as genitogluteal porokeratosis), follicular porokeratosis and porokeratoma. Apart from the clinical presentation and epidemiology of each variant listed, this review aims at providing up-to-date information on the precise genetic background, introduces imaging methods facilitating the diagnosis (conventional and ultraviolet-induced fluorescence dermatoscopy, reflectance confocal microscopy and pathology), discusses their oncogenic potential and reviews the literature data on the efficacy of the treatment used, including the drugs directly targeting the isoprenoid-mevalonate pathway.

Disseminated Superficial Actinic Porokeratosis in the Elderly: A Case Report

Currently, most authors believe that disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP) is an inherited or acquired dermatologic disorder of keratinization that occurs in genetically predisposed individuals after adequate exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays, or immunosuppression. Lesions in DSAP start in sun-exposed areas most commonly in the third or fourth decade of life. The lesions are pink to brownish papules and plaques with a raised scaling ridge, histologically seen as a column of parakeratotic keratinocytes, the cornoid lamella. DSAP is not only the most common, but also the most often overlooked form of porokeratosis (P). Here we present a 77-year-old male with DSAP, who sporadically developed initial skin lesions at the age of 67, at the time when his personal and medical history were significantly long for chronic intensive sun exposure and type 1 insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. We established the diagnosis of DSAP based on personal and medical history, clinical presentation, auxiliary methods such as dermoscopy, and confirmed with pathohistological findings. We advised the patient to avoid sun exposure and to apply photo-protective sunscreens, emollients and keratolytics. After five years of monitoring his changes, we continue to control his lesions for any possible alteration. Although mutations in several genes and data on sun exposure may be responsible for the onset of the disease, most cases of DSPA occur sporadically and without involving the facial skin, as in our case. Lesions usually begin in the third or fourth decade of life. In the elderly, an additional trigger may be present, such as e.g. age-related decreased immune competence. Diabetes mellitus may also be associated with immunodeficiency in the elderly. Recently, DSPA has been a special subtype of DSPA in the elderly. Malignant alteration can occur in DSPA, most commonly in lesions that are long lasting, large, in the elderly, or in lesions in immunocompromised individuals. In conclusion, this is the case of a 77-year-old male person, who sporadically developed the so-called subtype DSPA in the elderly. In addition to UV radiation, the relevant suggestive trigger factors were the immunosuppressive effects of diabetes mellitus and chronological aging.

Eruptive Disseminated Porokeratosis in a Patient With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Porokeratosis includes a group of heterogenous disorders that represents distinct clinical subtypes of the same genetic pattern. Although entire pathogenesis of porokeratosis still remains unknown, certain factors including ultraviolet radiation and immunosuppression are suggested to be some of the factors inducing this disorder. Eruptive disseminated porokeratosis is a recently described form of porokeratosis, which frequently occurs in the presence of immunosuppresion or malignancy. The authors report here a unique case with sudden onset eruptive disseminated porokeratosis associated with diabetes mellitus.

Dermoscopy of Disseminated Superficial Actinic Porokeratosis

We present a series of 6 cases of disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis and describe their dermoscopic features. Dermoscopy is a noninvasive in vivo technique that is useful as a tool for the diagnosis and follow-up of porokeratosis. This condition has specific dermoscopic features that were observed in our series of cases and that are consistent with reports in the international literature.

Disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis on the face treated with imiquimod 5% cream

Porokeratoses are a group of hereditary or acquired disorders characterized by annular lesions with an atrophic center and a prominent peripheral ridge. Pathologically, porokeratosis is characterized by the presence of abnormal clones of keratinocytes that form a column of parakeratotic cells, called the cornoid lamella. Fifteen percent of patients of disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP) have facial lesions; other regions like the extensor surface of extremities constitute the majority of reported cases. Exclusively facial lesions are probably less frequent. Rarely, actinic porokeratosis is confined to the nose only. Of reported porokeratosis cases, 7.5% have revealed a malignancy arising within the lesion. We present a case of facial sporadic DSAP that was treated with imiquimod 5% cream in conjunction with a regular sunscreen. Follow-up of this case is important to rule out the possibility of malignant transformation of the lesions.