Cutaneous Horn Treatment & Management

  • Author: Fiona Larsen, MBChB, FRACP; Chief Editor: William D James, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 12, 2012
 

Surgical Care

  • Treatment recommendation is contingent upon the type of lesion at the base. In order to rule out a malignancy, it is essential to perform a biopsy of the lesion that includes the base of the horn. In the case of benign lesions at the base of the horn, the biopsy is both diagnostic and therapeutic.
  • Excise malignancies with appropriate margins. Patients discovered to have horns with an underlying squamous cell carcinoma also should be evaluated for metastasis.
  • Local destruction with cryosurgery is first-line treatment for verruca vulgaris, actinic keratosis, and molluscum contagiosum. Benign lesions do not require any further therapy after the diagnostic biopsy.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Fiona Larsen, MBChB, FRACP  Dermatologist/Dermatopathologist, Private Practice; Consultant Dermatologist, Waitemata District Healthboard

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Carlos Ricotti, MD  Fellow, Department of Dermatology, Division of Dermatopathology, University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine

Carlos Ricotti, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society of Dermatopathology, and International Society of Dermatopathology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Clay J Cockerell, MD  Director, Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Division of Dermatopathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Clay J Cockerell, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, International Academy of Pathology, International AIDS Society, International Society for Dermatologic Surgery, North American Clinical Dermatologic Society, Society for Investigative Dermatology, and Southern Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

R Stan Taylor, MD  The JB Howell Professor in Melanoma Education and Detection, Departments of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, Director, Skin Surgery and Oncology Clinic, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

R Stan Taylor, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Mohs Surgery, American Dermatological Association, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Christian Medical & Dental Society, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

David F Butler, MD  Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Dermatology, Director, Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic, Northside Clinic

David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Edward F Chan, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Edward F Chan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Catherine M Quirk, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania

Catherine M Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

William D James, MD  Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, Vice-Chairman, Residency Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Elsevier Royalty Other

Additional Contributors

The authors and editors of Medscape Reference gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author, Nancy Silvis, MD, to the development and writing of this article.

References

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A typical presentation of a cutaneous horn on the ear.
An unusually large cutaneous horn extending from the ear.
 
 
 
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