Disseminated Superficial Actinic Porokeratosis (DSAP)

Abstract

This study of 31 patients presents disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP) as a distinctive and recognizable entity characterized by many uniformly small, minimal, annular, anhidrotic, keratotic lesions developing during the third or fourth decade of life on sun-exposed areas of skin. It is not a rare condition. While many clinical features of DSAP differ from the classic type of porokeratosis (Mibelli), the histologic features are essentially the same including the typical cornoid lamella, but the features are often minimal. Of six attempts to autotransplant portions of lesions, three were successful. Exacerbation following natural or experimental ultraviolet light radiation, distribution of lesions limited to sun-exposed areas of skin, and frequent clinical and histologic similarities to true actinic keratoses indicate that actinic radiation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of DSAP.