eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Malignant Neoplasms

Keratoacanthoma: Differential Diagnoses & Workup

Author: Tsu-Yi Chuang, MD, MPH, Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Southern California; Staff Dermatologist, Desert Specialty Group, Inc
Coauthor(s): Ryan Brashear, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Dermatology, Indiana University School of Medicine
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Mar 11, 2009

Differential Diagnoses

Actinic Keratosis
Prurigo Nodularis
Cutaneous Horn
Sporotrichosis
Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Metastatic Carcinoma of the Skin
Verrucous Carcinoma
Molluscum Contagiosum
Muir-Torre Syndrome

Other Problems to Be Considered

  • Eruptive keratoacanthoma of Grzybowski: This is a generalized distribution of multiple keratoacanthomas that typically do not involute.
  • Multiple Ferguson-Smith keratoacanthoma: This is a rare autosomal dominant self-healing type of keratoacanthoma, with lesions arising in early adulthood.
  • Internal malignancy
  • Muir-Torre syndrome: Keratoacanthoma may be a component of Muir-Torre syndrome, which is a cancer-associated genodermatosis with multiple sebaceous neoplasms (adenomas, epitheliomas, carcinomas), keratoacanthomas, and gastrointestinal malignancies (most commonly colon), although other carcinomas have been reported (genitourinary, pulmonary, endometrial). When Muir-Torre syndrome is diagnosed, an age-appropriate cancer screening workup is indicated. An approximately equal number of internal malignancies are diagnosed before and after the cutaneous neoplasm. These internal malignancies tend to be low grade, but early diagnosis is important. Colonoscopy, rather than flexible sigmoidoscopy, is recommended, since the colon cancer frequently is found in the right ascending colon, proximal to the hepatic flexure.
  • Sporotrichosis15

Workup

Procedures

One component of establishing the diagnosis is tissue examination for histopathology. Shave biopsy results from a keratoacanthoma are indistinguishable from invasive SCC; therefore, excisional or deep incisional biopsy of the lesion is preferred.

Histologic Findings

Keratoacanthomas are composed of singularly well-differentiated squamous epithelium that show only a mild degree of pleomorphism and likely form masses of keratin that constitute the central core of keratoacanthoma.

Pseudocarcinomatous infiltration in keratoacanthoma typically presents a smooth, regular, well-demarcated front that does not extend beyond the level of the sweat glands.

The term SCC-KA type has been introduced for otherwise classic keratoacanthomas that reveal a peripheral zone formed by squamous cells with atypical mitotic figures, hyperchromatic nuclei, and loss of polarity to some degree. These marginal cells also may penetrate into surrounding tissue in a more aggressive pattern.

More on Keratoacanthoma

Overview: Keratoacanthoma
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Keratoacanthoma
Treatment & Medication: Keratoacanthoma
Follow-up: Keratoacanthoma
Multimedia: Keratoacanthoma
References
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References

  1. Manstein CH, Frauenhoffer CJ, Besden JE. Keratoacanthoma: is it a real entity?. Ann Plast Surg. May 1998;40(5):469-72. [Medline].

  2. Schwartz RA. Keratoacanthoma. J Am Acad Dermatol. Jan 1994;30(1):1-19; quiz 20-2. [Medline].

  3. Chuang TY, Reizner GT, Elpern DJ, Stone JL, Farmer ER. Keratoacanthoma in Kauai, Hawaii. The first documented incidence in a defined population. Arch Dermatol. Mar 1993;129(3):317-9. [Medline].

  4. Chuang TY, Reizner GT, Elpern DJ, Stone JL, Farmer ER. Non-melanoma skin cancer and keratoacanthoma in Filipinos: an incidence report from Kauai, Hawaii. Int J Dermatol. Oct 1993;32(10):717-8. [Medline].

  5. Reizner GT, Chuang TY, Elpern DJ, Stone JL, Farmer ER. Keratoacanthoma in Japanese Hawaiians in Kauai, Hawaii. Int J Dermatol. Dec 1995;34(12):851-3. [Medline].

  6. Reizner GT, Chuang TY, Elpern DJ, Stone JL, Farmer ER. Basal cell carcinoma and keratoacanthoma in Hawaiians: an incidence report. J Am Acad Dermatol. Nov 1993;29(5 Pt 1):780-2. [Medline].

  7. Frank TL, Maguire HC Jr, Greenbaum SS. Multiple painful keratoacanthomas. Int J Dermatol. Sep 1996;35(9):648-50. [Medline].

  8. Sanders S, Busam KJ, Halpern AC, Nehal KS. Intralesional corticosteroid treatment of multiple eruptive keratoacanthomas: case report and review of a controversial therapy. Dermatol Surg. Oct 2002;28(10):954-8. [Medline].

  9. Letzel S, Drexler H. Occupationally related tumors in tar refinery workers. J Am Acad Dermatol. Nov 1998;39(5 Pt 1):712-20. [Medline].

  10. Miot HA, Miot LD, da Costa AL, Matsuo CY, Stolf HO, Marques ME. Association between solitary keratoacanthoma and cigarette smoking: a case-control study. Dermatol Online J. Feb 28 2006;12(2):2. [Medline].

  11. Hsi ED, Svoboda-Newman SM, Stern RA, Nickoloff BJ, Frank TS. Detection of human papillomavirus DNA in keratoacanthomas by polymerase chain reaction. Am J Dermatopathol. Feb 1997;19(1):10-5. [Medline].

  12. Lu S, Syrjanen SL, Havu VK, Syrjanen S. Known HPV types have no association with keratoacanthomas. Arch Dermatol Res. Mar 1996;288(3):129-32. [Medline].

  13. Clausen OP, Beigi M, Bolund L, et al. Keratoacanthomas frequently show chromosomal aberrations as assessed by comparative genomic hybridization. J Invest Dermatol. Dec 2002;119(6):1367-72. [Medline].

  14. Kim DK, Kim JY, Kim HT, Han KH, Shon DG. A specific chromosome aberration in a keratoacanthoma. Cancer Genet Cytogenet. Apr 1 2003;142(1):70-2. [Medline].

  15. Meffert JJ. Cutaneous sporotrichosis presenting as a keratoacanthoma. Cutis. Jul 1998;62(1):37-9. [Medline].

  16. Sayama S, Tagami H. Treatment of keratoacanthoma with intralesional bleomycin. Br J Dermatol. Oct 1983;109(4):449-52. [Medline].

  17. Annest NM, VanBeek MJ, Arpey CJ, Whitaker DC. Intralesional methotrexate treatment for keratoacanthoma tumors: a retrospective study and review of the literature. J Am Acad Dermatol. Jun 2007;56(6):989-93. [Medline].

  18. Dendorfer M, Oppel T, Wollenberg A, Prinz JC. Topical treatment with imiquimod may induce regression of facial keratoacanthoma. Eur J Dermatol. Jan-Feb 2003;13(1):80-2. [Medline].

  19. Grob JJ, Suzini F, Richard MA, et al. Large keratoacanthomas treated with intralesional interferon alfa-2a. J Am Acad Dermatol. Aug 1993;29(2 Pt 1):237-41. [Medline].

  20. Canas GC, Robson KJ, Arpey CJ. Persistent keratoacanthoma: challenges in management. Dermatol Surg. Dec 1998;24(12):1364-9. [Medline].

  21. Fitzpatrick T, Eisen A, Wolff K, et al, eds. Keratoacanthoma. In: Dermatology in General Medicine. 1993. 4th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 848-855.

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Further Reading

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Keywords

keratoacanthoma, KA, squamous cell carcinoma, SCC, invasive SCC, invasive squamous cell carcinoma, squamous cell cancer, skin cancer, skin malignancy, pilosebaceous gland cancer, pilosebaceous glands

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Tsu-Yi Chuang, MD, MPH, Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Southern California; Staff Dermatologist, Desert Specialty Group, Inc
Tsu-Yi Chuang, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and International Society of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Ryan Brashear, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Dermatology, Indiana University School of Medicine
Ryan Brashear, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and American Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Susan M Swetter, MD, Director, Pigmented Lesion and Cutaneous Melanoma Clinic, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Stanford University Medical Center, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System
Susan M Swetter, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, Pacific Dermatologic Association, Society for Investigative Dermatology, Society for Melanoma Research, and Women's Dermatologic Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Michael J Wells, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

John G Albertini, MD, Consulting Staff, Dermatologic Surgery, The Skin Surgery Center
John G Albertini, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Catherine Quirk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Brown University
Catherine 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, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Vice-Chair, Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Health System
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; american college of physicians Honoraria Other

 
 
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