AK
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Alaska |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Geography & Places, Medical |
AK has two meanings. It stands for Alaska (US state) or Actinic keratosis (dermatology).
Meanings of AK at a glance
| # | AK stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | Geography & Places › US State |
| 2 | Actinic keratosis | Medical › Dermatology |
1. Alaska
Geography & Places · US State Abbreviations
Largest US state by area at about 665,000 square miles, bought from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million and admitted on January 3, 1959, as the 49th state. Juneau, the capital, cannot be reached by road from the rest of North America; Anchorage is the largest city.
Example: Our team ships to Anchorage, AK, but delivery to remote villages can take three weeks.
AP never abbreviates Alaska, even in datelines; it is one of eight states with that rule, and the old form Alas. is obsolete. AK was assigned in 1963 with the first two-letter codes. The classic mix-up is writing AL for Alaska, which is Alabama's code, while AR and AZ belong to Arkansas and Arizona.
2. Actinic keratosis
Medical · Dermatology Abbreviations
Rough, scaly, sandpaper-like patch on chronically sun-exposed skin, such as the face, scalp, ears and backs of the hands, made of abnormal keratinocytes. AKs are precancerous: a small fraction progress to squamous cell carcinoma, so they are treated with cryotherapy or field therapies.
Example: Multiple AKs on bald scalp; liquid nitrogen to 6 lesions, start 5-fluorouracil cream to the field.
Also called solar keratosis. "Field cancerization" describes the surrounding sun-damaged skin, which is treated with topical 5-fluorouracil, imiquimod, tirbanibulin or photodynamic therapy. The presence of many AKs marks a high risk of skin cancer. Daily sunscreen reduces new lesions. The plural is AKs.
Related abbreviations
More US state abbreviations
- AL – Alabama
- AR – Arkansas
- AZ – Arizona
- CA – California
- CO – Colorado
- CT – Connecticut
- DC – District of Columbia
- DE – Delaware
See all 51 US state abbreviations →
More dermatology abbreviations
- ACD – Allergic contact dermatitis
- AD – Atopic dermatitis
- AGA – Androgenetic alopecia
- AGEP – Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis
- BCC – Basal cell carcinoma
- BP – Bullous pemphigoid
- CSU – Chronic spontaneous urticaria
- CTCL – Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
See all 52 dermatology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.