Review of Actinic Keratosis. Part I:Etiology, Epidemiology and Clinical Presentation

September 2010 | Volume 9 | Issue 9 | Original Article | 1125 | Copyright © September 2010


Leonard H. Goldberg MD and Adam J. Mamelak MD

Abstract
Clinically, actinic keratoses (solar keratoses) are keratotic lesions that occur on chronically sunlight-exposed skin. Histologically, they are epidermal tumors. Presenting with a spectrum of clinical features, actinic keratoses are believed to be predictors and precursors of invasive squamous cell carcinoma. This, the first of a two-part overview, examines the etiology and epidemiology of actinic keratoses, their clinical and histological features and their role in the development of nonmelanoma skin cancer.