Actinic keratosis in the region of cukurova: Clinical and histopatological features

Objective: Determining the clinical and histopatological features of actinic keratosis which are specific to Cukurova region.Material and Methods: Total numbers of 50 lesions taken from 25 male and 25 female patients who consulted Cukurova University School of Medicine Department of Dermatology and each of which had at least one lesion of actinic keratosis were evaluated. Actinic keratosis was diagnosed after the clinic and dermoscopic examination and incisional biopsy specimen were taken from the lesion and evaluated histopatologically by the Cukurova University School of Medicine Department of Pathology. Fisher Exact test was used for statistical evaluation.Findings: Ages of patients included in this study range between 40-80 and mean age has been found to be 63.9 ± 10.1. 84% of patients were over 55, 42% of patients over 66. Sex distribution has been equal. According to Fitzpatrick skin type classification, 12 patients (24%) were type II, 15 patients (30%) were type III, and 23 patients (46%) were type IV. 22 (44%) patients had one lesion, 21 (42%) patients had multiple lesions. According to clinical type, 47 (94%) lesions were evaluated as typical actinic keratosis. According to histopatological type, 27 (54%) patients were evaluated as hypertrophic type, 18 (36%) patients as atrophic type, 2 (4%) patients as acantholitic type and 3 (6%) patients as mixed type. In total of 8 (16%) patients there was at least one skin malignancy along with the actinic keratosis. At least one skin malignancy was found based on the skin type and associated skin malignancy, (4 [14.8%] out of total 27 patients with skin type II and type III, and 4 [17.4%] out of 23 patients with skin type IV). At least one skin malignancy was found based on the lesion duration and associated skin malignancy. (2 [6.1%] out of 33 patients with lesion duration of 60 months or shorter and 6 [35.2%] out of 17 patients with lesion duration of 61 months or longer). In comparison of frequency of associated skin malignancies between age groups, there were associated skin malignancies in 6 (%28,6) of 21 patients aged 66 years or older and in 2 (%6,9) of 29 patients aged 65 years or younger.Conclusion: In the region of Cukurova, actinic keratosis can also be seen at younger ages due to the climate properties. For the same reason, having a dark phenotype does not decrease the risk of actinic keratosis. In our study group higher association with skin malignancies at older ages supports increasingly spreading view that actinic keratosis can be seen as ?intraepidermal squamous cell carcinoma?.Key words: Actinic Keratosis, Dermatopathology, Cukurova Region