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Giant Cutaneous Horn: Is It a Tip of An Iceberg? Two Case Reports and a Review of Literature

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Abstract

Cutaneous horns are uncommon lesions which consist of proliferation of keratotic material resembling that of an animal horn. This lesion most commonly occurs in sun-exposed areas, particularly the face, ear, nose, forearms and dorsum of hands. The purpose of the study was to highlight the atypical presentation of squamous cell carcinoma as a giant cutaneous horn along with the review of literature. Case details were obtained from hospital records and clinical and histopathological findings were noted. Herein we report two cases of giant cutaneous horn associated with an underlying carcinoma presenting at an uncommon site. Both the patients were adults and had a chronic history of a skin lesion over the affected sites. Wide local excision was performed in both cases and histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a cutaneous horn with a well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma at the base of the horn. Cutaneous horns are commonly associated with benign lesions and rarely with malignant conditions. It is imperative to biopsy the base of the horn to rule out any underlying malignancy. Proper surgical excision with adequate margins is the preferred treatment in case of an underlying malignancy.

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Correspondence to Shailee Mehta.

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Vanik, S., Mehta, S., Shah, R. et al. Giant Cutaneous Horn: Is It a Tip of An Iceberg? Two Case Reports and a Review of Literature. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 74 (Suppl 3), 5432–5435 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-021-02719-1

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