Acanthosis Nigricans and Endocrine Disease

Among 29 patients who had the blackish-brown, verrucous lesions of benign pubertal or postpubertal acanthosis nigricans, there were 9 with endocrinopathy in the form of pituitary adenoma, Stein-Leventhal syndrome, Addison's disease, or diabetes mellitus. Of the nine, four were male and five female. The ages of these patients ranged from 14 to 39 years, congenital cases being excluded. Obesity was marked in some cases, but it was not a constant factor. Treatment of the endocrine disorder did not consistently affect the acanthosis nigricans although the patients were observed for periods up to 13 years.