title: Italian expert consensus for the management of actinic keratosis in immunocompetent patients.
abstract: Actinic keratosis (AK) is a common skin disease which can potentially progress to invasive squamous cell carcinoma (iSCC). Given that mortality rates and health-care cost associated with iSCC are substantial, the management of AK represents an important public health issue. Several effective lesion-directed and field-directed treatments are available. Ablative procedures (e.g. cryosurgery, excision, laser ablation, curettage alone or with electrodessication) are considered cost-effective options for solitary lesions. Field-directed therapies (e.g. Ingenol Mebutate, imiquimod, PDT, 5-Fluorouracile, diclofenac 3%, 5-FU + Salicylic acid) can be used over large epidermal surfaces and are directed to treat both individual visible lesions and cancerization fields. In order to provide guidance for management choice in clinical practice, several guidelines concerning the diagnosis and treatment of AK have been published in the past decade. However, the introduction of novel therapeutic options requires continuous updates of recommendations and adaptation to national contexts. The present review summarizes the existing evidence and reports the results of a consensus workshop on the management of AK.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Dermatology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peris
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Science, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Calzavara-Pinton
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.affiliation: Unit of Dermatology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Girolomoni
authors.affiliation: Unit of Dermatology, AO Papardo, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Malara
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Clinic, AO San Martino, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parodi
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piaserico
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Unit of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pellacani
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology; D032921:Consensus; D018450:Disease Progression; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D055623:Keratosis, Actinic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D053685:Laser Therapy