Squamous Cell Carcinoma Causes Man to Grow 5-Inch ‘Dragon Horn’ on His Back
A 50-year-old man, whose untreated skin cancer resulted in the growth of a 5-inch-long “dragon horn,” is the subject of a recent case report detailed in the journal BMJ Case Reports.
According to the report, a lesion had been growing from the man’s back for three years before he finally visited a hospital in the UK. When doctors examined him, they documented their findings of an “enormous” cutaneous horn measuring 5.5 inches long and 2.3 inches wide. However, other than having light skin (a so-called 'Fitzpatrick II' skin type), he reported no significant risk factors of skin cancer, such as little sun exposure, no previous or family history of skin malignancy, and no immunosuppression.
Doctors
surgically removed the tissue and took a skin graft from his thigh to repair
the area where the horn, made up of keratin, had grown. Once they tested the
tissue, they diagnosed him with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the second most
common non-melanoma skin cancer.
The
report noted that cutaneous horns are “thought to result from underlying
benign, premalignant or malignant [epidermal lesions] in 61.1%, 23.2% and 15.7%
of cases, respectively.” Of those horns with a malignant base, squamous cell
carcinoma has been reported in 94% of cases. These types of large growths are not
common, the report explains, because most cases of squamous cell carcinoma are
”diagnosed and treated early before becoming ‘dragon horns.’”
According
to the report, more cases of SCC are being reported in Europe. While cutaneous
horns are very rare, they hope their findings will encourage awareness.
"This highlights that despite current public skin cancer awareness and
rigorous healthcare measures, cases like this can still arise and slip through
the net," the authors wrote.
What is squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)?
Per the American Cancer Society,
squamous cell carcinomas account for 20% of all skin cancer cases. Unlike basal
cell carcinomas, which start in the lower part of the epidermis, SCCs start in
the flat cells in the upper (outer) part of it.
SCC
commonly presents itself in sun-exposed areas of the body, including the face,
ears, neck, lips, and backs of the hands, and it can also develop in scars or
chronic skin sores elsewhere.
Treatment
usually involves removing SCCs completely. However, “they are more likely than
basal cell cancers to grow into deeper layers of skin and spread to other parts
of the body.”
The CDC points out that both basal
cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer are, “highly curable,
but can be disfiguring and costly to treat.”
Therefore,
prevention is key. Because the majority of skin cancer cases are caused by
overexposure to UV light, staying out of the sun and applying proper sun
protection factor is key to keeping yourself skin cancer free—especially for those
with the following characteristics who are at increased risk:
- A lighter natural skin color.
- Skin that burns, freckles, reddens easily, or becomes painful in the sun.
- Blue or green eyes.
- Blond or red hair.
- Certain types and a large number of moles.
- A family history of skin cancer.
- A personal history of skin cancer.
Additionally,
regularly check yourself for any unusual moles or changes in your skin. If you
notice any irregularities, report them to your doctor immediately.
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