Actinic keratosis appears indurated on sun-exposed skin and is rarely pre-malignant.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not sure
• D. It depends

Answer: (A)

Actinic keratosis is a sun-damaged skin lesion that is considered premalignant because it can progress to squamous cell carcinoma. Clinically, it presents as a rough, scaly, crusted patch on sun-exposed areas and may be slightly raised or thickened, but it is not typically an indurated, hard mass. The key point is its premalignant potential, which means it is not accurate to describe it as “rarely” premalignant. So the statement is not consistent with what AK represents in dermatology. If you encounter AK, treatment is important to reduce the risk of progression, with options like cryotherapy, topical therapies, or photodynamic therapy depending on the case.