Comparative study of pagetoid dyskeratosis between acrochordons and soft fibromas.
BACKGROUND
Pagetoid dyskeratosis (PD) is considered a casual finding. We can find it in some conditions, including acrochordons and soft fibromas.


OBJECTIVE
(1) to compare the presence of PD in soft fibromas and acrochordons and (2) to compare PD positive fibromas and PD negative fibromas.


METHODS
We reviewed all acrochordons and soft fibromas diagnosed in the General Hospital of Lanzarote, Spain, between January 2001 and December 2002. We assessed the presence of PD, size, acanthosis, basal pigmentation, and the presence of pseudohorn cysts.


RESULTS
Three hundred sixty one acrochordons and 164 soft fibromas were included in this study. There were striking differences in the presence of PD, size, acanthosis, and basal pigmentation between both entities. PD positive fibromas predominated in axillas. There were no other differences between PD positive fibromas and PD negative fibromas.


CONCLUSIONS
Although soft fibromas and acrochordons are actually fibroepithelial polyps, including the presence of PD, there are striking differences between them. Thus, both conditions have to be considered as different entities. PD could be related to friction and moisture. PD has to be distinguished from other conditions such as Paget's disease, pagetoid melanoma, koilocytes, clear cell papulosis, among others.
Piqué-Duran
Enric
E
Department of Dermatology, Hospital General of Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain. epiqued@medynet.com
Palacios-Llopis
Santiago
S
Moreno-Ramis
Pedro
P
Pérez-Cejudo
Juan A
JA
Martínez-Martín
Ma Sol
MS
D001365:Axilla; D005350:Fibroma / Q000473:pathology*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D010145:Paget Disease, Extramammary / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*