Background: Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis (EH) and focal acantholytic dyskeratosis (FAD) are distinct histologic patterns that have been observed incidentally in a variety of benign and malignant skin lesions, including melanocytic lesions.
Objective: Our motivation for this study was to determine whether FAD and/or EH was significantly associated with atypical melanocytic lesions.
Methods: Skin biopsy specimens of melanocytic lesions diagnosed at our facility over a 3-month period were examined for the occurrence of FAD and EH.
Results: Whereas both FAD and EH are uncommon findings, FAD was statistically increased in atypical melanocytic lesions (P =.0172). EH was not found to differ significantly in common acquired melanocytic nevi vs atypical melanocytic lesions.
Conclusions: Although both can be found in association with nonneoplastic skin diseases, as well as cutaneous neoplasms, FAD, but not EH, might serve as a marker for melanocytic atypia. Taken together with findings in the literature, FAD might serve as marker for atypical cutaneous proliferations as a whole.