Acanthosis nigricans
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| Acanthosis nigricans Classification and external resources | ||
| ICD-10 | L83. | |
|---|---|---|
| ICD-9 | 701.2 | |
| OMIM | 100600 | |
| DiseasesDB | 58 | |
| MedlinePlus | 000852 | |
| eMedicine | derm/1 | |
| MeSH | C17.800.621.430.530.100 | |
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Acanthosis nigricans is a brown to black, poorly defined, velvety hyperpigmentation of the skin, usually present in the posterior and lateral folds of the neck, the axilla, groin, umbilicus, and other areas.
Diagnosis
Common Causes
This occurs due to insulin spillover (from excessive production due to obesity or insulin resistance) into the skin which results in abnormal growth being observed.
The most common cause would be insulin resistance, usually from type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Other causes are familial, obesity, drug-induced, malignant (gastric cancer), idiopathic, and Polycystic ovary syndrome. In the context of a malignant disease, Acanthosis nigricans is a paraneoplastic syndrome and is then commonly referred to as Acanthosis nigricans maligna. Involvement of mucous membranes is rare and suggests a coexisting malignant condition.[1]
Signs and Tests
Physicians can usually diagnose acanthosis nigricans by simply looking at a patient's skin. A skin biopsy may be needed in unusual cases. If no clear cause of acanthosis nigricans is obvious, it may be necessary to search for one. Blood tests, an endoscopy, or x-rays may be required to eliminate the possibility of diabetes or cancer as the cause.
Physical Examination
Skin
Treatment
People with acanthosis nigricans should be screened for diabetes and, although rare, cancer. Controlling blood glucose levels through exercise and diet often improves symptoms.
Prognosis
Acanthosis nigricans often fades if the underlying cause can be determined and treated appropriately.
References
External links
de:Akanthosefr:Acanthosis nigricans
nl:Acanthosis nigricans
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
