Actinic keratosis - lesions behind the mask
Introduction: Actinic keratoses (AKs) are common skin lesions that arise in skin areas chronically exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. They may progress to squamous cell carcinomas in 16% of cases within 1 year. Clinically, they present as erythematous scaly plaques and mainly affect face, neck,...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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James Cook University
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Rural and Remote Health |
| Online Access: | https://www.rrh.org.au/journal/article/8113/ |
| _version_ | 1828010840275550208 |
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| author | Alexandra Maria Santos Soares Jorge Pereira Róman Márquez de LaPeña |
| author_facet | Alexandra Maria Santos Soares Jorge Pereira Róman Márquez de LaPeña |
| author_sort | Alexandra Maria Santos Soares |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Actinic keratoses (AKs) are common skin lesions that arise in skin areas chronically exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. They may progress to squamous cell carcinomas in 16% of cases within 1 year. Clinically, they present as erythematous scaly plaques and mainly affect face, neck, chest, back of the hands, shoulders and scalp. Cumulative exposure to UV radiation is the main risk factor. Other factors are advanced age, outdoor activities, geographic characteristics, exposure to artificial UV radiation and chronic skin inflammation. Many of these factors are often present in rural populations where agriculture remains important.Methods/Results: This presentation present the case of a 67-year-old male patient, who went to his Family Doctor for odynophagia with 2 days of evolution. He had hypertrophied and erythematous tonsils with purulent exudate and was medicated with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid 875+125 mg for 8 days with improvement of symptoms. To perform the observation of the oropharynx, he was asked to remove his face mask, which revealed an erythematous scaly lesion in the left malar region, suggestive of actinic keratosis. He was referred to Dermatology where cryotherapy of the lesion was performed with a favourable evolution without relapses.Discussion: AKs are pre-malignant lesions. Rural populations are particularly at risk for their development. It is therefore essential to raise awareness for the use of protective measures as well as to investigate lesions already established. This case seeks to alert for the fact that the use of masks due to COVID-19 pandemic can hide pre-malignant lesions of the face with a consequent delay in diagnosis and treatment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:06:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-13eda969c779431b9c2293f81785b0fc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1445-6354 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:06:14Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | James Cook University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Rural and Remote Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-13eda969c779431b9c2293f81785b0fc2023-02-21T06:51:13ZengJames Cook UniversityRural and Remote Health1445-63542023-01-012310.22605/RRH8113Actinic keratosis - lesions behind the maskAlexandra Maria Santos Soares0Jorge Pereira1Róman Márquez de LaPeña2UCSP S. Miguel – ULS Castelo Branco, Castelo Branco, PortugalUCSP S. Miguel – ULS Castelo Branco, Castelo Branco, PortugalUCSP S. Miguel – ULS Castelo Branco, Castelo Branco, PortugalIntroduction: Actinic keratoses (AKs) are common skin lesions that arise in skin areas chronically exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. They may progress to squamous cell carcinomas in 16% of cases within 1 year. Clinically, they present as erythematous scaly plaques and mainly affect face, neck, chest, back of the hands, shoulders and scalp. Cumulative exposure to UV radiation is the main risk factor. Other factors are advanced age, outdoor activities, geographic characteristics, exposure to artificial UV radiation and chronic skin inflammation. Many of these factors are often present in rural populations where agriculture remains important.Methods/Results: This presentation present the case of a 67-year-old male patient, who went to his Family Doctor for odynophagia with 2 days of evolution. He had hypertrophied and erythematous tonsils with purulent exudate and was medicated with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid 875+125 mg for 8 days with improvement of symptoms. To perform the observation of the oropharynx, he was asked to remove his face mask, which revealed an erythematous scaly lesion in the left malar region, suggestive of actinic keratosis. He was referred to Dermatology where cryotherapy of the lesion was performed with a favourable evolution without relapses.Discussion: AKs are pre-malignant lesions. Rural populations are particularly at risk for their development. It is therefore essential to raise awareness for the use of protective measures as well as to investigate lesions already established. This case seeks to alert for the fact that the use of masks due to COVID-19 pandemic can hide pre-malignant lesions of the face with a consequent delay in diagnosis and treatment.https://www.rrh.org.au/journal/article/8113/ |
| spellingShingle | Alexandra Maria Santos Soares Jorge Pereira Róman Márquez de LaPeña Actinic keratosis - lesions behind the mask Rural and Remote Health |
| title | Actinic keratosis - lesions behind the mask |
| title_full | Actinic keratosis - lesions behind the mask |
| title_fullStr | Actinic keratosis - lesions behind the mask |
| title_full_unstemmed | Actinic keratosis - lesions behind the mask |
| title_short | Actinic keratosis - lesions behind the mask |
| title_sort | actinic keratosis lesions behind the mask |
| url | https://www.rrh.org.au/journal/article/8113/ |
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