Cornu cutaneum L85

Clinically descriptive phenomenon for a hyperkeratotic skin outgrowth consisting of keratin, reminiscent of an animal horn, adhering to its base. The cornu cutaneum is usually painless. Pain occurs when pressure is applied to the lesion at mechanically exposed sites.

Representative data on incidence and prevalence are not available.

Under the image of a cornu cutaneum manifest themselves in particular:

• keratosis actinica
• verruca seborrhoica
• verrucae vulgaris
• Arsenic keratoses
• Keratosis, tricholemmal (trichilemmal horn)
• M. Bowen
• follicular keratosis
• spinocellular carcinoma
• Basal cell carcinoma
• Naevus verrucous, epidermal

Especially in elderly people (60-70 years), mostly in exposed skin, occurring in actinically damaged skin. Other localisations are also possible (e.g. toes) but rare.

V.a. cheeks, lips, nose, forehead, parting area, auricle, less often on the trunk, back of the hand, back of the foot, mostly solitary.

Yellowish-brownish, grey-white or skin-coloured "skin horn", which sits firmly on the skin vertically or bent and can reach a size of up to 10 cm.

1. Askar I et al (2003) Linear verrucous epidermal nevus with cutaneous horn. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 17: 353-355
2. Gould JW, Brodell RT (1999) Giant cutaneous horn associated with verruca vulgaris. Cutis 64: 111-112
3. Jansen T et al (1991) Pomade crust of the scalp simulating cornu cutaneum. dermatologist 42: 642-644
4. Jakobza D et al (1976) Cornu cutaneum giganteum superimposed on hypertrophic keratoma senile. Dermatol Monthly 162: 591-593
5. Petzelbauer P et al (1989) Cornu cutaneum. dermatologist 40: 556-558
6. Sachse M et al (2011) Subungual HPV-45-positive squamous cell carcinoma under the image of a cornu cutaneum. JDDG ): 226-228
7. Souza LN et al (2003) Cutaneous horn occurring on the lip of a child. Int J Paediatr Dent 13: 365-367