Cutaneous horn: a potentially malignant entity.
A cutaneous horn is a conical, dense, hyperkeratotic protrusion that often appears similar to the horn of an animal. It is a morphologic designation referring to an unusually cohesive keratinized material, not a true pathologic diagnosis. Cutaneous horns occur in association with, or as a response to, a wide variety of underlying benign, pre-malignant, and malignant cutaneous diseases. The most important common concern is distinguishing a hyperkeratotic actinic keratosis from a cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Keratoacanthoma is another cause, as illustrated herein as a projective cutaneous tumor with a fingernail-like appearance. The treatment of choice for cutaneous horns is shave excision with subsequent histopathologic evaluation to rule out underlying malignancy and to guide potential further therapy.
Fernandes
Neil F
NF
Dermatology and Pathology, New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA.
Sinha
Smeeta
S
Lambert
W Clark
WC
Schwartz
Robert A
RA
D006801:Humans; D007636:Keratoacanthoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D007642:Keratosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D055623:Keratosis, Actinic / Q000175:diagnosis