Clinical Quiz: Actinic Keratosis Prevention & Treatment from 2021 AAD Guidelines

Author(s):

Key Takeaways

Actinic keratosis is a precancerous condition with potential progression to squamous cell carcinoma, necessitating early intervention.
Comprehensive photoprotection, including sunscreen and sun-protective clothing, is emphasized for AK prevention.
Topical treatments like 5-fluorouracil and imiquimod are crucial for managing existing AKs, especially in field cancerization.
Treatment selection requires consideration of efficacy, tolerability, and patient-specific factors to optimize outcomes and minimize adverse effects.

This quiz, the first in a series of 4, tests your knowledge on prevention and treatment of actinic keratosis based on the 2021 AAD guidelines.

Credit: HCPLive

A common precancerous skin condition caused by cumulative ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure, actinic keratosis (AK) often presents as rough, scaly patches on sun-exposed areas and has the potential to progress to invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Given the increasing prevalence of AK, prevention and early intervention remain critical to reducing the burden of disease and mitigating malignant transformation. The 2021 guidelines from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) emphasize comprehensive photoprotection, including the consistent use of broad-spectrum sunscreen, sun-protective clothing, and patient education on UV avoidance, as key preventive strategies.

For patients with existing AKs, topical treatments play a crucial role, particularly in cases of field cancerization. The AAD guidelines outline the indications, mechanisms, and expected outcomes for agents such as 5-fluorouracil, imiquimod, diclofenac, and ingenol mebutate. These therapies vary in their efficacy, tolerability, and duration of application, requiring careful patient selection.

This quiz will assess knowledge of evidence-based prevention strategies, the selection and use of topical treatments, and key considerations for optimizing treatment efficacy while minimizing adverse effects.

True or False: Regular use of sunscreen can help reduce the number of new actinic keratoses.

Editor's Note: This quiz was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools.

Reference:

Eisen DB, Dellavalle RP, Frazer-Green L, Schlesinger TE, Shive M, Wu PA. Focused update: Guidelines of care for the management of actinic keratosis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2022;87(2):373-374.e5. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2022.04.013