Cutaneous horn | |
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Actinic keratosis, pre-cancerous area of thick, scaly, or crusty skin (Below) with cutaneous horn tissue (above) |
Cutaneous horns, also known by the Latin name cornu cutaneum, are unusual keratinous skin tumors with the appearance of horns, or sometimes of wood or coral. Formally, this is a clinical diagnosis for a "conical projection above the surface of the skin." [1] They are usually small and localized but can, in very rare cases, be much larger. Although often benign, they can also be malignant or premalignant. [2]
The lesion at the base of the keratin mound is benign in the majority of cases. Malignancy is present in up to 20% of cases, with squamous-cell carcinoma being the most common type. The incidence of squamous-cell carcinoma increases to 37% when the cutaneous horn is present on the penis. [3]
The cause of cutaneous horns is still unknown, but it is believed that exposure to radiation can trigger the condition. This is evidenced by a higher rate of cases occurring on the face and hands, areas that are often exposed to sunlight. Moreover, there is a higher prevalence in Asian countries with a warm climate. Other cases have reported cutaneous horns arising from burn scars. [4] As with many other wart-like skin conditions, a link to the HPV virus family, especially the HPV-2 subtype has been suggested. [5]
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adding to it. (June 2024) |
Cutaneous horn | |
---|---|
| |
Actinic keratosis, pre-cancerous area of thick, scaly, or crusty skin (Below) with cutaneous horn tissue (above) |
Cutaneous horns, also known by the Latin name cornu cutaneum, are unusual keratinous skin tumors with the appearance of horns, or sometimes of wood or coral. Formally, this is a clinical diagnosis for a "conical projection above the surface of the skin." [1] They are usually small and localized but can, in very rare cases, be much larger. Although often benign, they can also be malignant or premalignant. [2]
The lesion at the base of the keratin mound is benign in the majority of cases. Malignancy is present in up to 20% of cases, with squamous-cell carcinoma being the most common type. The incidence of squamous-cell carcinoma increases to 37% when the cutaneous horn is present on the penis. [3]
The cause of cutaneous horns is still unknown, but it is believed that exposure to radiation can trigger the condition. This is evidenced by a higher rate of cases occurring on the face and hands, areas that are often exposed to sunlight. Moreover, there is a higher prevalence in Asian countries with a warm climate. Other cases have reported cutaneous horns arising from burn scars. [4] As with many other wart-like skin conditions, a link to the HPV virus family, especially the HPV-2 subtype has been suggested. [5]
![]() | This section is empty. You can help by
adding to it. (June 2024) |
![]() | This section is empty. You can help by
adding to it. (June 2024) |