Actinic Keratosis Area
and Severity Index
An easy-to-use quantitative tool for assessing AK severity on the head.
The information contained in this app is directed exclusively at qualified healthcare professionals (HCP).
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What is AKASI?

AKASI, a new scoring system in AK


AKASI is a medical device intended for use by healthcare professionals to assess AK severity on the head.

AKASI = Actinic Keratosis Area and Severity Index

This scoring system is designed to quantitatively evaluate the severity of AK on the head.

To determine the AKASI score, the head is divided into four areas: scalp, forehead, left and right face.

In each region, the percentage of the area affected by AK, the distribution of AKs, the intensity of erythema and the degree of thickness of the worst visible AK are estimated and scored accordingly.

The sum of the four scores is multiplied by the area coefficient to obtain a subscore for each area of the head.

The sum of the four subscores gives a total AKASI score for the entire head, ranging from 0 (no AK) to 18 (AK of the severest possible degree).

Wish to know more about AKASI? Find the reference below:
Dirschka T, Pellacani G, Micali G, Malvehy J, Stratigos AJ, Casari A, Schmitz L, Gupta G; Athens AK Study Group. A proposed scoring system for assessing the severity of actinic keratosis on the head: actinic keratosis area and severity index. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2017 Aug;31(8):1295-1302.

That is why, together with the experts who have developed AKASI, members of the European Association of Dermato-Oncology (EADO), the first digital application was created to ease the use of this scoring system in daily practice and clinical trials.

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Calculation method

How to grade parameters


    Area extent
  • Unaffected area
  • 1
    1-9%
  • 2
    10-29%
  • 3
    30-49%
  • 4
    50-69%
  • 5
    70-89%
  • 6
    90-100%
    AK Distribution
  • 0
    None
  • 1
    Isolated or scattered
  • 2
    Clustered
  • 3
    Clustered and confluent
  • 4
    All confluent
    Erythema
  • 0
    None
  • 1
    Slight
  • 2
    Moderate
  • 3
    Intense
  • 4
    Very intense
    Thickness
  • 0
    No palpability
  • 1
    Just palpable
  • 2
    Clearly palpable
  • 3
    Thickened
  • 4
    Very thickened

Throughout the calculation process, you can access this information through the i button (on the top right side).

AKASI in real practice

To better understand how to implement AKASI in a real setting, a clinical case is illustrated.

Tips before getting started!

  1. If Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) or Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is present, this is not included in the AKASI evaluation.
  2. Sandpaper-like texture should be included in the estimation of area affected. Also include areas covered by hairs into your estimation (e.g. if the scalp is fully covered by hairs there is often no actinic keratotic damage – area score for scalp in this case is 0).
  3. When grading distribution, assign a score for the worst affected region of the area.
  4. When grading erythema and thickness, assign a score for the worst affected lesion of the area.
  5. Only evaluate erythema related to AK ; exclude erythema related to other dermatological conditions such as rosacea.
  6. Thickness is based on touch .
Clinical example
E) Schematic form - Total score calculation
Score Scalp Forehead Left cheek, ear, chin and nose Right cheek, ear, chin and nose
D (Distribution) 3 3 1 1
E (Erythema) 2 2 2 2
T (Thickness) 2 3 2 2
Sum of D + E + T 7 8 5 6
% of affected area 35% 25% 15% 20%
Area score 3 2 2 2
Subtotal (Sum of D + E + T + Area score) 10 10 7 8
Area coefficient x0.4 x0.2 x0.2 x0.2
AKASI Subscore 4.0 2.0 1.4 1.6
Total AKASI Score 9.0
Total score range from 0 to 18

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