Ann Dermatol.  2009 Feb;21(1):81-83. 10.5021/ad.2009.21.1.81.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma Masquerading as Rhinophyma

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Dermatology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. knderma@ catholic.ac.kr

Abstract

A rhinophyma lesion can mask the existence of coexisting occult skin cancers, and many types of tumors can mimic a rhinophyma. Although several coexistent malignant tumors have been reported in patients with rhinophyma, few reports have described the coexistence of rhinophyma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Herein, we report on a case of SCC in a 45-year-old man who presented with 2-month-history of a painful, erythematous, globular plaque on the tip of his nose and this lesion mimicked a rhinophyma lesion. The histopathologic examination showed a proliferation of atypical squamous cells that extended into the dermis, which was consistent with SCC. He was treated with surgical excision, and there has been no evidence of recurrence during the follow-up period of 1 year.

Keyword

Rhinophyma; Squamous cell carcinoma

MeSH Terms

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Dermis
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Hydrazines
Masks
Middle Aged
Nose
Recurrence
Rhinophyma
Skin Neoplasms
Hydrazines

Figure

  • Fig. 1 A solitary, 3×2 cm sized, irregular shaped, erythematous, nodular plaque with telangiectasia and crusting on the tip of the nose.

  • Fig. 2 (A) The histopathologic findings show a tumor invading into the dermis (H&E, ×40). (B) The invading tumor is composed of well-differentiated squamous cells that show individual keratinization (H&E, ×400).


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