Clinicopathological and Dermoscopic Features of Clear Cell Acanthoma
- Author:
Kyung-Hwa NAM
1
;
Eui-Sung JUNG
;
Jin PARK
;
Seok-Kweon YUN
Author Information
1. Department of Dermatology, Presbyterian Medical Center, Jeonju, Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Korean Journal of Dermatology
2021;59(1):25-32
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background:Clear cell acanthoma is a rare benign epidermal tumor that is considered a nonspecific reactive dermatosis. To date, no reports have described systematic analyses of clear cell acanthoma in Koreans.
Objective:We investigated the clinical, histopathological, and dermoscopic features of clear cell acanthoma.
Methods:In this study, we evaluated 14 lesions of clear cell acanthoma.
Results:We observed female predominance (male:female ratio 1:1.3), and the mean patient age was 55.8±18.0 years (range 15∼76 years), with the peak incidence observed in patients in their 60s. Notably, 57.1% of lesions developed on the lower extremities. The lesion was most commonly misdiagnosed as seborrheic keratosis. Histopathological examination revealed a well-demarcated area of keratinocytes with pale-staining cytoplasm and psoriasiform epidermal hyperplasia and mild spongiosis, exocytosis of neutrophils, and thinned suprapapillary plates. Dermoscopic examination showed a clear cell acanthoma with characteristic vascular findings, including pinpoint red dots, globular red dots, and glomeruloid structures with linear or reticular patterns.
Conclusion:Clear cell acanthoma commonly presents as a small solitary lesion measuring <1 cm in diameter that occurs on the lower extremities in women in their 60s. Histopathological characteristics of this lesion include Periodic acid Schiff-positive with pale cytoplasm, and dotted, globular, and glomeruloid vessels with a linear or reticular pattern on dermoscopy. This was a single-center, small-sized retrospective study; however, in our view, the results of this study would contribute to the literature by providing a better understanding of clear cell acanthoma in Koreans.