POROKERATOSES- A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Ligi Isac, Song Jiquan*, Hanaasha Kumar and Sufiyan Pottanpulan

ABSTRACT

Porokeratoses are a group of uncommon hereditary or acquired keratinization disorder of unknown aetiology. It is of autosomal dominant inheritance. The known clinical variants include classic porokeratosis of mibelli, disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis, disseminated superficial porokeratosis, linear porokeratosis, Palmaris plantaris punctata, Palmaris plantaris disseminate. The most common one is disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP) which is more commonly seen in women. Porokeratosis of mibelli shows a male predominance. Different variants can coexist in the same patient. Some rare variants have also been reported in the literature which includes PK ptychotropica, follicular porokeratosis, prurigo nodularis like PK, bullous PK, pustular PK, genital PK, seborrheic keratosis like PK, ulcerative PK, eruptive pruritc PK, porokeratoma or porokeratotic acanthoma. The lesions have a predilection for extremities and trunk, but the face, genito-gluteal regions, scrotum, perianal regions are rarely involved. Clinically it is characterized by an atrophic centre surrounded by an elevated keratotic rim. Histologically it is characterized by the presence of cornoid lamellae. Porokeratotic lesions have a greater risk of malignant transformation, localized destruction causing functional impairment. There are several therapeutic options for porokeratoses which helps in the symptomatic improvement and clearance of lesions, but none of them has shown consistent and long-lasting efficacy. In this article, we will discuss about different clinical and rare variants of porokeratosis and the medical efficacy of different therapeutic approaches and also about newer therapeutic options in the treatment of porokeratoses.

Keywords: Porokeratoses, cornoid lamellae, keratinization, variants, laser therapy.