The hyperkeratotic variant of disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP)

• Published in: International journal of dermatology 1999-03, Vol.38 (3), p.204-206
• Main Authors: Jang, Kyoung-Ae, Choi, Jee-Ho, Sung, Kyung-Jeh, Moon, Kee-Chan, Koh, Jai-Kyoung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Dermatology; Dyskeratosis; Facial Dermatoses - pathology; Hand Dermatoses - pathology; Humans; Keratosis - pathology; Leg Dermatoses - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Porokeratosis - pathology
• ISSN: 0011-9059; 1365-4632
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-4362.1999.00657.x

A 78‐year‐old South Korean man was referred to us from the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) for an opinion. He was comatose and was on ventilatory care due to aspiration pneumonia. Multiple tiny papules had developed 10 years previously and since then the number and size had been increasing gradually. He had been diabetic for the past 4 years, and had Parkinson’s disease diagnosed 1 year previously. Laboratory examinations revealed an elevated level of white blood cells (WBCs) (25,000/μL) and decreased hemoglobin (8.8 g/dL). Other laboratory results were negative or within normal limits. Skin examination showed multiple, discrete, crust‐like, brownish papules over the erythematous base on the face, upper extremities, and lower extremities ( Fig. 1). With the clinical impressions of irritated verruca vulgaris, seborrheic keratosis, or cutaneous fungal infection, a skin biopsy was taken from a papule on the left shin, and histopathologic examination revealed several pronounced hyperkeratotic and parakeratotic columns, and characteristic cornoid lamellae in the stratum corneum ( Fig. 2). Beneath the cornoid lamellae, the granular layer was decreased. A number of round or oval, dyskeratotic, homogenized eosinophilic cells with pyknotic nuclei were scattered in the prickle cell layer below the cornoid lamellae ( Fig. 3). A mild lymphohistiocytic infiltrate was observed in the papillary dermis and around the blood vessels in the upper dermis. Also, actinic degeneration was present in the upper dermis. 1 Multiple, discrete, brownish papules with peripheral keratotic ridges on the left shin 2 Several hyperkeratotic and parakeratotic columns in the stratum corneum (hematoxylin and eosin)[TAB] 3 A number of round or oval dyskeratotic homogenized eosinophilic cells with pyknotic nuclei in the prickle cell layer below the cornoid lamellae (hematoxylin and eosin)[TAB] Discussion