Acanthosis nigricans is usually diagnosed through clinical evaluation, laboratory tests, and screening.
- Clinical evaluation
Doctors initially suspect acanthosis nigricans by observing typical skin manifestations such as hyperpigmentation and thickening.For pediatric patients, differential diagnosis from congenital skin diseases is needed.For adult patients, comprehensive judgment should be made based on obesity status, endocrine indicators, and other factors. - Laboratory tests of related indicators Blood glucose, insulin and metabolic markers:Fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, insulin levels, blood lipids, etc., are tested to assess the presence of insulin resistance and metabolic disorders, which is especially important for patients with obesity-related acanthosis nigricans.When performing these tests in children, consideration must be given to the fact that normal metabolic ranges differ from those in adults.
Endocrine hormone tests:Including growth hormone, thyroid function markers (thyroid hormones, thyroid-stimulating hormone, etc.), to rule out acanthosis nigricans caused by endocrine diseases.Normal hormone ranges vary by age; for example, thyroid function values in children are different from those in adults and must be interpreted using pediatric reference ranges. - Tumor screening
For adult patients with acanthosis nigricans, comprehensive tumor-related examinations are performed, such as gastroscopy, chest CT, gynecological examinations, etc., to exclude acanthosis nigricans caused by malignant tumors.The focus of tumor screening varies with age; elderly patients may require more intensive screening for common age-related cancers.