keratoacanthoma
Sign in to saveKeratoacanthoma (KA) is a common low-grade (unlikely to metastasize or invade) rapidly-growing skin tumour that is believed to originate from the hair follicle (pilosebaceous unit) and can resemble squamous cell carcinoma.
Key facts
- Medical condition (new).name
- Keratoacanthoma
- Medical condition (new).image
- Keratoacanthoma_2.jpg
- Medical condition (new).caption
- Keratoacanthoma
- Medical condition (new).field
- Dermatology, plastic surgery
- Medical condition (new).types
- Giant keratoacanthomas Subungual keratoacanthoma Multiple keratoacanthomas (Ferguson–Smith syndrome) Keratoacanthoma centrifugum marginatum Generalized eruptive keratoacanthoma of Grzybowski
- Medical condition (new).risks
- Ultraviolet radiation, immunosuppression, genetics
- Medical condition (new).diagnosis
- Tissue biopsy
- Medical condition (new).differential
- Squamous cell skin cancer
- Medical condition (new).treatment
- Surgery (excision, Mohs surgery)
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Article
8 sectionsContents
- Classification
- Cause
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- History
- See also
- References
- External links
Keratoacanthoma (KA) is a common low-grade (unlikely to metastasize or invade) rapidly-growing skin tumour that is believed to originate from the hair follicle (pilosebaceous unit) and can resemble squamous cell carcinoma.
The defining characteristic of a keratoacanthoma is that it is dome-shaped, symmetrical, surrounded by a smooth wall of inflamed skin, and capped with keratin scales and debris. It grows rapidly, reaching a large size within days or weeks, and if untreated for months will almost always starve itself of nourishment, necrose (die), slough, and heal with scarring. Keratoacanthoma is commonly found on sun-exposed skin, often face, forearms and hands. It is rarely found at a mucocutaneous junction or on mucous membranes.