• Source: Cutaneous horn

Cutaneous horns, also known by the Latin name cornu cutaneum, are unusual keratinous skin tumors with the appearance of horns, or sometimes of wood or coral. Formally, this is a clinical diagnosis for a "conical projection above the surface of the skin." They are usually small and localized but can, in very rare cases, be much larger. Although often benign, they can also be malignant or premalignant.




Signs and symptoms


The lesion at the base of the keratin mound is benign in the majority of cases. Malignancy is present in up to 20% of cases, with squamous-cell carcinoma being the most common type. The incidence of squamous-cell carcinoma increases to 37% when the cutaneous horn is present on the penis.




Cause


The cause of cutaneous horns is still unknown, but it is believed that exposure to radiation can trigger the condition. This is evidenced by a higher rate of cases occurring on the face and hands, areas that are often exposed to sunlight. Moreover, there is a higher prevalence in Asian countries with a warm climate. Other cases have reported cutaneous horns arising from burn scars. As with many other wart-like skin conditions, a link to the HPV virus family, especially the HPV-2 subtype has been suggested.




Diagnosis



Histologically they are characterized by compact proliferation of keratin




Treatments



Treatment is surgical excision




Notable cases


Zhang Ruifang, aged 101 (as of 2010), living in Linlou Village, Henan province, China, has grown a cutaneous horn on her forehead, resembling what those who have examined her and her family call "Devil's Horns". Notably, this growth has expanded to reach a total of 6 cm (2.5 inches) in length. Another is forming on the opposite side of her forehead.
Liang Xiuzhen, aged 87 (as of 2015) living in Guiyan village in Ziyang City, Sichuan province, China, grew a 13-centimetre (5.1-inch) pointed horn from her forehead, earning her the nickname "Unicorn Woman".
Huang Yuanfan, aged 84 (living in Ziyuan, China).
Shyam Lal Yadav, aged 74 (living in Madhya Pradesh, India) grew a 10-centimetre (4-inch) horn after an accident, and later had it surgically removed.
Madame Dimanche ("Widow Sunday"), a French woman living in Paris in the early 19th century, grew a 24.9-centimetre (9.8-inch) horn from her forehead in six years from the age of 76 before it was successfully removed by French surgeon Br. Joseph Souberbeille (1754–1846). A wax model of her head is on display at the Mütter Museum, The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, US.

























See also


Wart
Actinic keratosis
Epidermodysplasia verruciformis
List of cutaneous conditions
Shope papilloma virus




References






Further reading


Matthew Moore (12 November 2007). "Tree man 'who grew roots' may be cured". London: Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 13 November 2007. Retrieved 14 November 2007.
"Images of cutaneous horns". DermAtlas. Archived from the original on 19 April 2003. Retrieved 14 November 2007.
DiClaudio, Dennis (2006) "The Hypochondriac's Pocket Guide to Horrible Diseases You Probably Already Have", Bloomsbury Publishing, ISBN 978-1-59691-061-4




External links

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Agama
• Cutaneous horn
• Skin tag
• Horn (anatomy)
• Actinic keratosis
• Cornu
• Howel–Evans syndrome
• Pseudoepitheliomatous keratotic and micaceous balanitis
• Auricle (anatomy)
• Cutaneous innervation
• List of skin conditions