Acanthosis nigricans

Acanthosis nigricans

Updated: 01/31/2020

© Jun Wang, MD, PhD

General features

• Increased pigmentation of skin
• Usually in patients > 40
• May be associated with endocrine diseases, congenital disorders and visceral malignancies, especially GI
• May occur as inherited disorder
• Most are "benign" type, either autosomal dominant or associated with resistance to insulin, including diabetes, obesity and Cushing's disease

Clinical features

• Brown, velvety and verrucous plaques
• Commonly in axillae, back of neck and other skin folds
• Oral mucosa (lips and tongue) may be affected

Pathological features

• Papillomatous epidermal proliferation
• Hyperpigmentation
• NO melanocytic proliferation

Management

• Focus on underlying disorders

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