Morphological Picture of Actinic Keratoses

Abstract

Actinic keratosis is a local intraepidermal atypia of keratinocytes of varying severity due to the effects of sunlight. With a long course of 10–20% of the foci, it can be transformed into malignant epithelial tumors of the skin. Early diagnosis of precancerous skin diseases plays a significant role in preventing the development of skin cancer. Diagnosis is made based on the clinical picture, data from history (excessive insolation), dermatoscopy. Histological research methods allow us to reliably judge the degree of dysplastic changes in the epidermis in actinic keratosis and its invasive potential. 38 patients with actinic keratosis were monitored, women accounted for 86.9%, men — 13.1%. In the histological examination of skin in patients, atrophic type of dysplasia was observed mainly at the age of 55–75 years, hypertrophic type was detected at the age of 55–70 years, proliferative type at 66–75 years, acanthalytic and bivenoid type at 66–70 years and 76 years and older, lichenoid at the age of 66–70 years. In male patients, types of dysplasia were observed, such as atrophic at the age of 66–70 years and 71–75 years, hypertrophic at 61–65 years and 71–75 years. Histological response from the appearance of antibodies to elastosis showed that women were most likely to have wide and total zones of elastosis, and at the age of 66–70 years, with damage to deeper layers of the skin. Early diagnosis of actinic keratosis contributes to the correct selection of the most adequate and necessary treatment tactics, which will reduce the risk of malignant transformation of the disease.