Disseminated epidermolytic acanthoma

A 57-year-old man developed hundreds of light brown, slightly atrophic papules, which were distributed diffusely over the back. Although clinically the lesions resembled seborrheic keratoses, histologic examination demonstrated changes of epidermolytic hyperkeratosis. The patient had neither a personal nor a family history of ichthyosiform disorders. The diagnosis of disseminated epidermolytic acanthoma was made in the context of the clinical, histologic, and historical features. Disseminated epidermolytic acanthoma is a rare condition that is readily diagnosable using clinicopathologic correlation; it is important to exclude it from other more serious conditions associated with epidermolytic hyperkeratosis.