Acrochordons and diabetes mellitus: A Case control study

Abstract

Background: Acrochordons (Skin tags) are common benign skin tumors usually occurring on the neck and major flexors of older people. These range in size from 1 mm to 1cm in diameter and are skin colored or brownish. A possible association with diabetes mellitus has been suggested in previous studies, but the result is not conclusive. 

Objectives: The aim of this study was to find out the association of diabetes mellitus with acrochordons. 

Material and Methods: One hundred and two patients were selected for the study. Among them 51 (males-23 and females-28) with acrochordons were taken as cases and 51 with other dermatologic disease after matching age and sex were taken as controls. The patients were selected from OPD of Department of Dermatology and Venereology in Universal College of Medical Sciences - Teaching Hospital (UCMS-TH). Blood glucose level including both fasting plasma glucose and 2-hour  post-glucose  load  were  determined  for  both  case  and  control  and  compared. 

Results: Patients with acrochordons had significantly higher frequency of diabetes than the control group (p<0.001). Total of 48.5% and 40% of patients with acrochordons having diabetes were obese and overweight respectively. 

Conclusion: There is an increased risk of diabetes mellitus in patients with acrochordons. With regard to the importance of early diagnosis of diabetes, it is recommended a high level of suspicion for diabetes mellitus in patients with acrochordons.

NJDVL Vol. 13, No. 1, 2015 Page: 32-37