Question

Which of the following regarding the condition depicted in the image?

• A. May be an indication of skin malignancy
• B. Hypopigmentation
• C. May be associated with Insulin resistant diabetes mellitus
• D. Commonly occurs in lean and thin.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Dark, thickened, velvety skin in body folds, classically the axilla and neck, is the hallmark of acanthosis nigricans.
Step 2: Its strongest clinical association is with insulin resistance and obesity, so among the choices the link to insulin-resistant diabetes mellitus is the accurate one.
Step 3: The microscopic basis is hyperplasia of the epidermis with a thickened Malpighian layer, which produces the rough velvety surface seen clinically.
Step 4: It is a hyperpigmented (not hypopigmented) lesion seen in obese rather than lean patients, and when paraneoplastic it points to internal GIT malignancy, not a skin cancer, eliminating the other options.
\[\boxed{\text{May be associated with insulin resistant diabetes mellitus}}\]