Synonyms
Pseudoacanthosis nigricans; Acanthosis nigricans (AN) maligna
Definition and Characteristics
A mostly symmetric eruption characterized by hyperpigmented, velvety cutaneous thickening typically involving the axillae, neck, groin, antecubital, popliteal and umbilical areas. Histologically, there is epidermal papillomatosis, acanthosis, occasionally with increased melanization of the epidermis and presence of melanophages in the upper corium.
Prevalence
The prevalence is highly associated with obesity: Up to 66% of adolescents and up to 74% of adults with obesity have AN. AN maligna is exceedingly rare with only 2 out of 12,000 cancer patients [1].
Genes
INSR (MIM#147670), PPAR-γ (MIM#601487), AGPAT2 (MIM#603100), BSCL (MIM#606158), LMNA (MIM#150330), ALMSI (MIM#606844), FGFR2 (MIM#176943), FGFR3 (MIM#134934) [2].
Molecular and Systemic Pathophysiology
The molecular causes underlying AN are heterogenous and depend on the clinical subtype [1]. All pathogenetic events lead to...
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References
Schwartz RA (1994) Acanthosis nigricans. J Am Acad Dermatol 31:1–19
Torley D et al. (2002) Genes, growth factors and acanthosis nigricans. Br J Dermatol 147:1096–1101
Ersoy Evans S et al. (2006) The acanthosis nigricans form of epidermal nevus. J Am Acad Dermatol 55:696–698
Haase I, Hunzelmann N (2002) Activation of epidermal growth factor receptor/ERK signaling correlates with suppressed differentiation in malignant acanthosis nigricans. J Invest Dermatol 118:891–893
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Böhm, M., Luger, T.A. (2009). Acanthosis Nigricans. In: Lang, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29676-8_12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29676-8_12
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-67136-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-29676-8
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