Keratoacanthoma is a rapidly growing squamoid neoplasm that may spontaneously regress. It is considered a variant of which entity for clinical management purposes?

• A Basal cell carcinoma requiring Mohs surgery
• B Benign reactive epidermal cyst requiring no treatment
• C Merkel cell carcinoma requiring sentinel node biopsy
• D Well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma — treated as SCC with excision ✓

Explanation

Although keratoacanthoma (KA) was historically classified as a pseudo-malignant self-resolving neoplasm, current clinical practice treats it as a well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma because: (1) histological distinction from SCC is unreliable, (2) rare cases metastasize, and (3) mucosal, periungual, and giant variants behave more aggressively. Surgical excision with adequate margins is recommended rather than awaiting spontaneous regression. Multiple KAs suggest Ferguson-Smith syndrome (TGFBR1 mutation) or Muir-Torre syndrome.

Reference: Neena Khanna Illustrated Synopsis of Dermatology & STD, 6th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.