Trauma-induced keratoacanthomas following skin cancer excisions

Authors

  • Camille Moeckel Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA Author
  • Elen Deng Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA Author
  • Alice Lin Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA Author
  • Matthew Helm Department of Dermatology, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Author
  • Sara Ferguson Department of Dermatology, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25251/6jak4671

Keywords:

cutaneous neoplasms, keratoacanthoma, skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, trauma

References

1. Kwiek B, Schwartz RA. Keratoacanthoma (KA): An update and review. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;74:1220-1233. [PMID: 26745295].

2. Goldberg LH, Silapunt S, Beyrau KK, et al. Keratoacanthoma as a postoperative complication of skin cancer excision. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2004;50:753-758. [PMID: 15068567].

3. Kim JH, Lee SH, Hong SP, et al. Solitary keratoacanthoma at the recipient site of a full-thickness skin graft: A case report and review of the literature. Arch Plast Surg. 2023;50:59-62. [PMID: 36837962].

4. Lee S, Coutts I, Ryan A, et al. Keratoacanthoma formation after skin grafting: A brief report and pathophysiological hypothesis. Australas J Dermatol. 2017;58:e117-e119. [PMID: 28258766].

5. Monaco JL, Lawrence WT. Acute wound healing an overview. Clin Plast Surg. 2003;30:1-12. [PMID: 12789159].

6. Kato M, Honda I, Suzuki H, et al. Interleukin-10 production during and after upper abdominal surgery. J Clin Anesth. 1998;10:184-188. [PMID: 9612740].

7. Chiang E, Stafford H, Buell J, et al. Review of the tumor microenvironment in basal and squamous cell carcinoma. Cancers (Basel). 2023;15:2453. [PMID: 37104532].

8. Lowes MA, Bishop GA, Cooke BE, et al. Keratoacanthomas have an immunosuppressive cytokine environment of increased IL-10 and decreased GM-CSF compared to squamous cell carcinomas. Br J Cancer. 1999;80:1501-1505. [PMID: 10536727].

9. Foxton G, Delaney T. Eruptive keratoacanthoma and squamous cell carcinoma complicating imiquimod therapy: Response to oral acitretin. Australas J Dermatol. 2011;52:66-69. [PMID: 21395707].

10. Sagi L, Trau H. The Koebner phenomenon. Clin Dermatol. 2011;29:231-236. [PMID: 21470906].

11. Ambur A, Clark A, Nathoo R. An updated review of the therapeutic management of keratoacanthomas. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2022;15:S16-S22. [PMID: 36775758].

12. Baeza-Hernández G, Cañueto J. Intralesional treatments for invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Cancers (Basel). 2023;16:158. [PMID: 36492692].

13. Nofal A, Alakad R, Wahid R, et al. Intralesional methotrexate versus 5-fluorouracil in the treatment of keratoacanthoma. Arch Dermatol Res. 2024;316:400. [PMID: 36942832].

14. Goette DK, Odom RB. Successful treatment of keratoacanthoma with intralesional fluorouracil. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1980;2:212-216. [PMID: 6243702].

15. Marka A, Rodgers D, Zelaya Castillo L, et al. Dilute intralesional 5-fluorouracil for the treatment of squamous cell carcinomas and keratoacanthomas: A case series. J Drugs Dermatol. 2023;22:507-508. [PMID: 37136343].

16. Ambur A, Clark A, Nathoo R. An updated review of the therapeutic management of keratoacanthomas. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2022;15:S16-S22. [PMID: 36588786].

17. Kiss N, Avci P, Bánvölgyi A, et al. Intralesional therapy for the treatment of keratoacanthoma. Dermatol Ther. 2019;32:e12872. [PMID: 31038395].

18. Bettoli V, Zedde P, Schettini N, et al. A new hybrid therapeutic approach to solitary keratoacanthoma: Complete recovery in six patients. Skin Appendage Disord. 2023;9:69-72. [PMID: 36621769].

19. Sanders S, Busam KJ, Halpern AC, Nehal KS. Intralesional corticosteroid treatment of multiple eruptive keratoacanthomas: Case report and review of a controversial therapy. Dermatol Surg. 2002;28:954-958. [PMID: 12410683].

20. Stenn KS, Paus R, Dutton T, Sarba B. Glucocorticoid effect on hair growth initiation: A reconsideration. Skin Pharmacol. 1993;6:125-134. [PMID: 8352950].

21. Fisher LB, Maibach HI. The effect of corticosteroids on human epidermal mitotic activity. Arch Dermatol. 1971;103:39-44. [PMID: 4321801].

22. Schwarz JA, Viaje A, Slaga TJ. Fluocinolone acetonide: A potent inhibitor of mouse skin tumor promotion and epidermal DNA synthesis. Chem-Biol Interact. 1977;17:331-347. [PMID: 880700].

23. Lee SW, Morhenn VB, Ilnicka M, Eugui EM, Allison AC. Autocrine stimulation of interleukin-1 alpha and transforming growth factor alpha production in human keratinocytes and its antagonism by glucocorticoids. J Invest Dermatol. 1991;97:106-110. [PMID: 1905331].

24. Mills KC, Kwatra SG, Feneran AN, et al. Itch and pain in nonmelanoma skin cancer: Pain as an important feature of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Arch Dermatol. 2012;148:1422-1423. [PMID: 23187138].

25. Sahu S, Yosipovitch G. Itch and pain intensity in skin cancer: Why should dermatologic surgeons assess it? Clin Dermatol. 2021;39:119-122. [PMID: 33256784].

26. Yosipovitch G, Mills KC, Nattkemper LA, et al. Association of pain and itch with depth of invasion and inflammatory cell constitution in skin cancer: Results of a large clinicopathologic study. JAMA Dermatol. 2014;150:1160-1166. [PMID: 25183755].

Downloads

Published

05/09/2026

Data Availability Statement

Not applicable. 

Issue

Vol. 32 No. 2 (2026): Dermatology Online Journal

Section

Case Report / Case Series

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Camille Moeckel, Elen Deng, Alice Lin, Matthew Helm, Sara Ferguson (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.