ABSTRACT
Acanthosis nigricans (AN) is a process characterized by a soft, velvety, brown or grayish-black thickening of the skin that is symmetrically distributed over the axillae, neck, inguinal areas and other body folds. While most cases of AN are seen in obese and prepubertal children, it
can occur as a marker for various endocrinopathies as well as in female patients with elevated testosterone levels, irregular menses, and hirsutism. It is frequently a concomitant of an underlying malignant condition,
principally an adenocarcinoma of the intestinal tract.
