Clinical, epidemiological and histopathological characterization of patients with actinic keratosis

Abstract

Introduction: Several factors related with the development of actinic keratosis (AK) have been reported in other countries.

Objective: To describe the clinical, epidemiological and histopathological characteristics of patients with diagnosis of AK in Medellín, Colombia.

Methodology: This was a descriptive study of patients with AK. A structured survey including demographic, clinical and epidemiological information was applied.

Results: 153 patients were included (58 men [37.9%] and 95 women [62.1%]) with an average age of 70 years. Sixty four patients (41.8%) were aged 75 years or more. With regard to their personal history, 108 individuals (70.6%) had a high degree of solar exposure during childhood; 76 (49.7%) reported the habit of smoking and 16 out of these (21.1%) still smoked. In 46 (30.1%) there was a family history of skin cancer. Regarding individual habits, 73 (47.7%) carried out both indoor and outdoor activities, 80 (52.3%) reported the use of sunscreen and 37 (24.4%) used hat or cap at the time of the study. Fitzpatrick´s type II phototype predominated (101 patients; 66%) and 76 (49.7%) had moderate actinic damage. The predominant single histologic subtype corresponded to the atrophic type (12%) and the main mixed subtype was the atrophichyperkeratotic subtype (18.7%).

Conclusions: Clinical, epidemiological and histopathological features found among two institutional populations with AK in Medellin (Colombia) were similar to those reported in the literature.