Epidermolytic acanthoma

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD medical weight loss NYC and sleep center NYC

Epidermolytic acanthoma
Epidermolytic acanthoma
Synonyms
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	Dermatology
Symptoms	Small, wart-like lesions on the skin
Complications
Onset
Duration
Types
Causes	Unknown
Risks
Diagnosis	Skin biopsy
Differential diagnosis	Seborrheic keratosis, Verruca
Prevention
Treatment	Cryotherapy, Curettage, Laser therapy
Medication
Prognosis	Excellent
Frequency	Rare
Deaths	N/A

Epidermolytic acanthoma is a benign skin lesion characterized by epidermolysis and acanthosis. It typically presents as a solitary or multiple small papules on the trunk, extremities, or genitalia. These lesions are often asymptomatic and are usually discovered incidentally during a dermatological examination.

Pathophysiology

Epidermolytic acanthoma is characterized by epidermolytic hyperkeratosis, which involves the degeneration of the stratum granulosum and the stratum spinosum of the epidermis. This condition is histologically similar to epidermolytic hyperkeratosis seen in bullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma, but it is localized and not associated with systemic disease.

Clinical Presentation

Patients with epidermolytic acanthoma typically present with small, discrete, hyperkeratotic papules. These lesions are usually skin-colored or slightly pigmented and can vary in size from a few millimeters to a centimeter. They are most commonly found on the trunk, arms, and legs, but can also occur on the genitalia.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of epidermolytic acanthoma is primarily clinical, supported by histopathological examination. A skin biopsy will reveal characteristic features of epidermolytic hyperkeratosis, including hypergranulosis, acanthosis, and vacuolar degeneration of the keratinocytes.

Treatment

Epidermolytic acanthoma is a benign condition and does not require treatment unless the lesions are symptomatic or cosmetically concerning to the patient. In such cases, treatment options include cryotherapy, curettage, or laser therapy.

Prognosis

The prognosis for epidermolytic acanthoma is excellent, as it is a benign lesion with no potential for malignant transformation. Lesions may persist indefinitely but do not typically cause any significant health issues.

See also

• Epidermolysis
• Acanthosis
• Hyperkeratosis
• Skin lesion