Clear Cell Acanthoma: A Clinical, Dermoscopic and Histological Review John Howard, DO,* Andrei Gherghina, DO, MS,** Jacquiline Habashy, DO, MS,*** Angela Poulos Combs, DO, FAOCD, FAAD,**** Stanley Skopit, DO, MSE, FAOCD, FAAD***** *Dermatology Research Fellow, Larkin Community Hospital, Miami FL **Dermoscopy Fellow, Skin and Cancer Associates, Plantation, FL ***Traditional Rotating Intern, PGY1, Larkin Community Hospital, Miami, FL ****Dermatopathologist, Global Pathology/Aurora Diagnostics, Miami Lakes, FL *****Program Director, Larkin Community Hospital/NSU-COM Dermatology Residency, South Miami, FL Disclosures: None Correspondence: Jacquiline Habashy, DO;
[email protected] Abstract Clear cell acanthoma (CCA) is an uncommon, benign epidermal tumor that may be easily misdiagnosed on a clinical basis alone. Although biopsy is commonly performed for diagnosis, perceptive clinicians may suspect a CCA with the use of clinical and dermoscopic findings. We present a case of a suspected clear cell acanthoma confirmed by biopsy along with a clinical, dermoscopic and histological review of the condition. Introduction arranged in a linear “string of pearls” distribution, of lesions can range from approximately 3 mm to CCA was first described in 1962 and was also revealing the characteristic dermoscopic vascular 20 mm, and they can slowly grow for up to 10 years. pattern seen in clear cell acanthoma (CCA) When closely examining the surface of the lesion, known as “Degos acanthoma” and “acanthome 3,4 cellules claires of Degos and Civatte.”1 There are (Figure 2). vascular puncta are present, which easily bleed currently no known risk factors, and the etiology is following minor trauma. These lesions are usually unknown. It is theorized that the cause may be an Discussion found on the lower extremities in middle-aged to CCA is a rare, benign lesion that is oftentimes elderly adults, with both sexes affected equally.5,6 inflammatory reaction secondary to an unknown difficult to diagnose with clinical observation alone.