Keratoacanthoma

It is a kind of a skin cancer which is confines to the skin. The skin tumor grows from the hair follicle and generally grows quickly. It is more commonly found to occur in men. Earlier it was regarded as benign but it has been found that some of the tumors transform into squamous cell carcinoma. It is now being treated and regarded as a malignant growth. Keratocanthoma is characterized by rapid enlargements and is followed by a stable period and then a slow regression.

Cause

It is believed that sunlight causes keratocanthomas. People who smoke are more susceptible to keratoacanthomas. At times, minor trauma to the skin occurs before keratocanthoma develops. It has been seen that various chemical carcinogens have contributed to its incidence. It has been found to occur in people in their 70’s. If left untreated, a true keratoacanthoma continues to grow for several months, reaches a maximum size and then self destructs over several months. It has also been found out that some keratoacanthomas are related to infection with human papilloma virus which causes warts.

Symptoms

It normally occurs on sun exposed skin areas and is found more on the neck and face. It can also be seen on the top of the head. It is characterized by rapid growth which becomes around an inch in size within weeks and is followed by a stable stationary period. The lesions tend to slowly regress over two to six months. The color of the lesion ranges from skin to pink color. The central portion of the lesion becomes scaly and a thick crater is formed which sometimes breaks off and leaves an ulcer. The diagnosis is conducted on the basis of their history and clinical presentation. When the lesions are removed, the pathologic picture is typical which confirms the diagnosis.

Treatment

Most keratoacanthoma resolve spontaneously but the chances of squamous cell carcinoma cannot be ruled out without removing the tumor and microscopic evaluation. Since the lesion is raised and unsightly, waiting for it to regress may be disturbing and it can also become malignant. This disease can be eradicated using surgical excision that results in the appearance of a cosmetic scar. Other treatment involves electrodesiccation and curettage. Liquid nitrogen can also be used for treating these lesions. Small doses of radiation and injections of chemotherapeutic agents may be quite effective in treating keratoacanthoma. One must also keep in mind that keratoacanthoma can reappear; therefore care must be taken as this type of cancer is known to spread to the internal organs.