Porokeratosis is an uncommon dermatologic disorder. It is a disorder of keratinization that presents with keratotic papules or annular plaques with an elevated border.[1] It has a distinct histologic hallmark of cornoid lamella, which is a column of tightly fitted parakeratotic cells in the upper epidermis.[2][3] There are multiple different clinical variants of porokeratosis, including disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis, classical porokeratosis of Mibelli, porokeratosis palmaris plantaris et disseminatum, and linear porokeratosis.[2] Additionally, more rare variants include genitogluteal porokeratosis, facial porokeratosis, giant porokeratosis, porokeratosis ptychotropica, hypertrophic verrucous porokeratosis, eruptive pruritic papular porokeratosis, follicular porokeratosis, and reticulate porokeratosis.[1][4] Variants can occur together,[5] but rarely do.[1] Porokeratosis is a precancerous lesion that can undergo malignant transformation.[6] Evaluation of porokeratosis is best with biopsy of the elevated border. While multiple therapies exist for porokeratosis, including topical, systemic, and surgical, there are no standard guidelines for treatment.[7]
The etiology of porokeratosis is unclear at this time.[3]
Porokeratosis is an uncommon diagnosis. It usually occurs on sun-exposed skin, most commonly in the fifth decade of life, but can occur at any age and similar frequencies in males and females.[2] The increased occurrence of disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis on sun-exposed skin likely indicates that ultraviolet light is a risk factor.[8]
The eruptive form of porokeratosis correlates with immune suppression, transplantation patients, inflammatory states, and malignancy.[4]
Porokeratosis will progress to nonmelanoma skin cancer in 6.9% to 30% of cases, most frequently squamous cell carcinoma, and less frequently basal cell carcinoma.[6]
While porokeratosis is usually an acquired disease, there is often a familial predisposition that could signify a hereditary component.[5]
Porokeratosis is an entity that results from the disordered progression of epidermal cells.[9] The development of this entity can be related to sun exposure. In areas where there has been no or limited sun exposure, repeated minor frictional trauma due to tight clothing may cause the entity, as is the case in genitourinary porokeratosis.[1]
There is a reported association with overexpression of p53, and occasionally there can be an expansion of a clone of abnormal epidermal keratinocytes.[6][5] Porokeratosis has the possibility of malignant transformation into squamous cell carcinoma or basal cell carcinoma.[5]
The distinctive histopathologic feature of porokeratosis is a cornoid lamella, which is a column of tightly fitted parakeratotic cells.[2][3] The column of parakeratosis will occur over the epidermis with an absent granular layer and dyskeratotic cells in the upper spinous zone.[1] This feature is usually present at the elevated border of the lesion.[1] While once thought to be pathognomonic of porokeratosis, the feature has presented in other conditions.[9] Cornoid lamellation reflects a disordered progression of epidermal cells.[9] In follicular porokeratosis, the cornoid lamella can involve the follicular infundibulum.[10]
Porokeratosis presents as keratotic papules or annular plaques that expand centrifugally with an elevated keratotic border.[1] Centrally, the lesion can appear slightly atrophic.[1] The lesions can present with pruritus and may be present for several years before diagnosis.[1] Disseminated nodules present as pink to brown papules and macules with raised borders.[4] Porokeratosis most commonly occurs in the limbs and trunk but can occur in the trunk, face, and genitourinary region, and scrotum.[10] However, porokeratosis as an entity has a broad spectrum of presentations, including large destructive lesions and involvement of burn scars.[6]
Evaluation of porokeratosis is best with a biopsy of the elevated border.[1] Biopsy in this area will show the cornoid lamella and will be essentially diagnostic. Dermoscopy can also be useful for diagnosis. Dermoscopy of lesions shows central brown pigmentation with blue-gray dots surrounded by a single hypopigmented band with a white track at the periphery.[1]
Despite the relative rarity of porokeratosis, especially some subtypes like genitourinary porokeratosis, one should keep the diagnosis in mind due to the risk of malignant degeneration.[6]
Multiple therapies are described for porokeratosis, including topical, systemic, and surgical. However, there have been no randomized controlled trials, so there are no international guidelines on treatment standards.[7]
Clinically porokeratosis can resemble psoriasis, lichen simple chronicus, hypertrophic lichen planus, tuberculosis of the skin, and Bowen disease, candidiasis, irritants, and allergic contact dermatitis.[1]
Porokeratosis is a premalignant condition[1]; however, all types of porokeratosis can undergo malignant transformation to non-melanoma skin cancer at a rate of 6.9 to 30%.[2][6] Most commonly, the lesion transforms into squamous cell carcinoma. Less frequently, the lesion transforms into basal cell carcinoma. If the lesion has not undergone a malignant transformation, excision is curative.
Linear porokeratosis and giant porokeratosis are the variants that are most susceptible to malignant transformation. Malignant transformation is most rare in disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis.[11]
Patients should use sun protection, avoid excessive sunlight exposure, and go for periodic examination by a dermatologist to monitor for recurrence or malignant transformation.[2]
Dermatologists and other clinicians should work closely with pathologists to ensure lesions receive an evaluation for the presence of malignant transformation.[2] [Level 5]
Dermatologists and dermatology specialty nurses should periodically followup with patients to monitor for recurrence.[2] An interprofessional team approach to follow up will provide the best patient outcomes. [Level 5]
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[2] | A report of 31 cases of porokeratosis at the National Skin Centre., Leow YH,Soon YH,Tham SN,, Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore, 1996 Nov [PubMed PMID: 9055013] |
[3] | Sertznig P,von Felbert V,Megahed M, Porokeratosis: present concepts. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV. 2012 Apr [PubMed PMID: 21929548] |
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[5] | Kanitakis J, Porokeratoses: an update of clinical, aetiopathogenic and therapeutic features. European journal of dermatology : EJD. 2014 Sep-Oct [PubMed PMID: 25115203] |
[6] | Ahmed A,Hivnor C, A case of genital porokeratosis and review of literature. Indian journal of dermatology. 2015 Mar-Apr [PubMed PMID: 25814761] |
[7] | Weidner T,Illing T,Miguel D,Elsner P, Treatment of Porokeratosis: A Systematic Review. American journal of clinical dermatology. 2017 Aug [PubMed PMID: 28283894] |
[8] | Neumann RA,Knobler RM,Jurecka W,Gebhart W, Disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis: experimental induction and exacerbation of skin lesions. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 1989 Dec [PubMed PMID: 2584454] |
[9] | Wade TR,Ackerman AB, Cornoid lamellation. A histologic reaction pattern. The American Journal of dermatopathology. 1980 Spring [PubMed PMID: 7246969] |
[10] | Zhao M,Sanusi T,Zhao Y,Huang C,Chen S, Porokeratosis with follicular involvement: report of three cases and review of literatures. International journal of clinical and experimental pathology. 2015 [PubMed PMID: 26097620] |
[11] | Silver SG,Crawford RI, Fatal squamous cell carcinoma arising from transplant-associated porokeratosis. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2003 Nov [PubMed PMID: 14576684] |