Giant cutaneous horn in an African woman: a case report

Peter M Nthumba

Department of Surgery, AIC Kijabe Hospital, PO Box 20 Kijabe 00220, Kenya, Africa

author email corresponding author email

Journal of Medical Case Reports 2007, 1:170doi:10.1186/1752-1947-1-170


Published:	5 December 2007

Abstract

Introduction

A cutaneous horn is a conical projection of hyperkeratotic epidermis. Though grossly resembling an animal horn, it lacks a bony core. These lesions have been well described in Caucasian patients, as well as in a number of Arabic and Asian patients.

Case presentation

A young female presented with a large 'horn' of five-year duration, arising from a burn scar. Excision and scalp reconstruction were performed. Histology was reported as verrucoid epidermal hyperplasia with cutaneous horn.

Conclusion

This may be the first documentation of this lesion in a black African. Although likely rare, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of dermatologic lesions. Up to 40% of cutaneous horns occur as part of a premalignant or malignant lesion, and surgical extirpation with histological examination is thus more important than the curiosity surrounding these lesions.