%0 Journal Article
%T A Novel Actinic Keratosis Field Assessment Scale for Grading Actinic Keratosis Disease Severity
%A Andr¨¦s Ruiz de Casas
%A Brigitte Dr¨¦no
%A Giovanni Pellacani
%A Ignasi Figueras Nart
%A John T. Lear
%A Ketty Peris
%A Progressing Evidence in AK (PEAK) Working Group
%A Rino Cerio
%A Shaniko Kaleci
%A Thomas Dirschka
%J -
%@ 1651-2057
%D 2017
%R 10.2340/00015555-2710
%X Actinic keratosis (AK) lesions are surrounded by field cancerization (areas of subclinical, non-visible sun damage). Existing AK grading tools rely on AK counts, which are not reproducible. An Actinic Keratosis Field Assessment Scale (AK-FAS) for grading the severity of AK/field was developed. Standardized photographs of patients representing the full range of AK severity were collected. Six investigators independently rated each photograph according to 3 criteria: AK area (total skin area affected by AK lesions), hyperkeratosis and sun damage. Inter-rater reproducibility was good for all 3 criteria. Validation of the AK-FAS showed good reproducibility for AK area and hyperkeratosis, even for dermatologists untrained on use of the scale. In conclusion, the AK-FAS is objective, easy to use and implement, and reproducible. It incorporates assessment of the entire field affected by AK instead of relying on lesion counts. Use of the AK-FAS may standardize AK diagnosis, making it relevant to routine clinical practice
%U http://www.medicaljournals.se/acta/content/abstract/10.2340/00015555-2710