Cutis Verticis Gyrata and Acanthosis Nigricans: Just a Coincidence? – A Case Report

Abstract

Cutis verticis gyrata (CVG) is a rare scalp condition that presents as convoluted folds and furrows, which resemble the cerebral cortex. Although the pathogenesis is not fully elucidated, recent investigations suggest the possible role of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) which may contribute to dermal hypertrophy in CVG pathogenesis.On the other hand, acanthosis nigricans (AN) is a dermatosis that is commonly associated with benign endocrine disorders, and increasing evidence suggest that AN is a convergent phenotype resulting from the activation of tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors (TKR), with mitogenic and antiapoptotic effects on keratinocytes. CVG presenting with AN has only been reported once in the previous literature and no association regarding their pathogeneses has been drawn yet. We report a rare case of a patient presenting CVG with concurrent AN, and suggest a shared underlying pathogenesis in these two disease entities which may be related to FGFR2 signaling pathway.