Keratoacanthoma

A keratoacanthoma is a rapidly evolving tumor of the skin with a "volcano-like" appearance, rising sharply from the surrounding skin as a smooth edge tumor.
Centrally, within the cone of the "volcano", is rough, keratotic tissue.
Keratoacanthomas usually spontaneously resolve within eight weeks, although they may continue to enlarge for months. When they resolve, there is usually a scar remaining.
Multiple keratoacanthomas of Fergusson-Smith is a variant. Diagnosis is made by histology.

Treatment:

• Keratoacanthomas should be surgically removed.
• Squamous carcinomas can clinically resemble keratoacanthomas. Incisional biopsy is often inadequate to differentiate keratoacanthoma from rapidly growing squamous carcinoma.

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