Abstract
Actinic keratoses are defined as proliferation of cytologically atypical keratinocytes in the zone of epidermal-dermal junction in photodamaged skin. In the northern hemisphere the prevalence of actinic keratoses ranges depending on different epidemiological studies from 11% to 25% for people aged 40 or older. The main cause of actinic keratoses is exposure to UVB radiation in sunlight UVB radiation induces mutations in the telomerase gene and in the tumor suppressor gene P53, which can also be detected in invasive squamous cell carcinoma. The only histological parameter to distinguish between actinic keratoses and SCC is the level of invasiveness. The risk for actinic keratoses to develop into SCC is about 16% over lo years. For this reason and because of the high prevalence of actinic keratoses, it has been suggested to replace the term,, actinic keratosis K with intraepidermal squamous cell carcinoma' to better characterize the lesion. In the following review recent aspects of pathogenesis and therapy of actinic keratoses are discussed.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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English Abstract
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Review
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Age Factors
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Aged
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Biopsy
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Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / diagnosis
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Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / drug therapy
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Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / etiology*
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Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
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Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / prevention & control
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Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / therapy
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Combined Modality Therapy
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Diagnosis, Differential
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Female
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Genes, p53
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Hand Dermatoses / etiology
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Humans
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Keratosis / diagnosis
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Keratosis / drug therapy
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Keratosis / etiology*
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Keratosis / pathology
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Keratosis / prevention & control
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Keratosis / therapy
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Multicenter Studies as Topic
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Mutation
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Neoplasm Invasiveness
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Photosensitivity Disorders / diagnosis
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Photosensitivity Disorders / etiology*
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Photosensitivity Disorders / prevention & control
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Physical Therapy Modalities
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Prevalence
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Risk Factors
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Scalp Dermatoses / etiology
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Skin / pathology
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Skin / radiation effects
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Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis
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Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy
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Skin Neoplasms / etiology*
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Skin Neoplasms / pathology
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Skin Neoplasms / prevention & control
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Skin Neoplasms / therapy
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Telomerase / genetics
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Terminology as Topic
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Ultraviolet Rays / adverse effects*