Case of a 87-year-old woman with a five inch cutaneous horn!
Within a space of six months, it had grown to a horn measuring five inches in length and just over two inches in diameter. The solid growth now resembles an animal horn in shape and colour. However, the skin around the horn is red raw and occasionally blood seeps through. Speaking about her condition, the patient said: 'At the moment it's just painful. Sometimes it's so painful it will wake me up from sleep.' Doctors have identified the growth as a cutaneous horn. Cutaneous horn (cornu cutaneum), is a conical, dense, hyperkeratotic nodule that resembles the horn of an animal. The horn is composed of compacted keratin. A number of skin lesions can be found at the base of this keratin mound. Cutaneous horns most frequently occur in sites that are exposed to actinic radiation or burns, and hence, are typically found on upper parts of the face. Other locations include scalp, nose, eyelid, ear, lip, chest, neck and shoulder. Forearm, cartilaginous portion of the ear, leg and back of hands may also be involved. Over 60% of the lesions are benign, however, malignant or premalignant lesions might be associated with it as well.
