Keratoacanthoma is a rare type of skin cancer that appears as a large bump with a mineral-filled open crater. It is usually found in areas exposed to sunlight and is more common in people over 50. Treatment involves surgical removal or radiation therapy.
Keratoacanthoma is a type of skin cancer that emerges as a large bump with a mineral-filled open crater in the middle. Bumps may appear on the head, arms, legs, or torso. It is rare for a person to have more than one keratoacanthoma tumor on their body, and this type of cancer almost never spreads to other parts of the body. A dermatologist can usually remove a lesion in a quick and relatively simple surgical procedure.
Doctors and medical researchers aren’t sure of the exact causes of keratoacanthoma, but they have identified several risk factors for developing the condition. Overexposure to sunlight is considered a probable cause since most lesions appear on areas of the skin that are frequently exposed to light, especially the face and arms. Some studies have shown that working around hazardous industrial chemicals is highly correlated with skin cancer. Additionally, researchers have also identified human papillomavirus infection and direct trauma to the skin as potential causes of keratoacanthoma. People over the age of 50 are more susceptible to cancer and it is very rare in patients under the age of 20.
A keratoacanthoma lesion initially appears as a small red or skin-colored bump. Over the course of two to four weeks, it can turn into a volcano-like mound with a large opening filled with keratin. Active lesions are usually less than two inches (about 5 cm) in diameter and have a hard, crusty, white appearance. After about six weeks, a lesion begins to slowly shrivel and shrink over about a year until a hard, disfiguring scar is left.
An individual should visit a dermatologist or primary care physician if they notice abnormal skin growth. A doctor can collect a tissue sample from inside the lesion which can be analyzed by laboratory scientists. Thorough laboratory tests must be conducted to differentiate keratoacanthoma from another, more dangerous condition called squamous cell carcinoma. Once the diagnosis is made, the doctor can determine the best course of treatment based on the size and location of the tumor.
A surgeon usually chooses to remove a small or medium-sized lesion by applying a local anesthetic to numb the area and eliminate the tumor. The wound is stitched up and the patient is given antibiotics to help prevent infection. In the case of a large lesion that cannot be easily removed by surgery, a patient may need to undergo radiation treatments to ablate it. Following a successful procedure, the patient is typically asked to wear sunscreen and schedule regular dermatologist checkups to help prevent future skin problems.
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