The key difference between keratoacanthoma and squamous cell carcinoma is that keratoacanthoma is a skin cancer that originates from hair follicles or pilosebaceous units, while squamous cell carcinoma is a skin cancer that originates from squamous cells.
Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the world. There are different types of skin cancers, such as basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, keratoacanthoma, squamous cell carcinoma, Kaposi sarcoma, and Merkel cell carcinoma.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Keratoacanthoma
3. What is Squamous Cell Carcinoma
4. Similarities – Keratoacanthoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma
5. Keratoacanthoma vs Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Keratoacanthoma vs Squamous Cell Carcinoma
What is Keratoacanthoma?
Keratoacanthoma is a dome-shaped tumor that begins from the hair follicles of the skin. This condition most frequently develops on hair-bearing and sun-exposed skin. Moreover, middle-aged and older adults with fair complexions are the most commonly affected population. Sun exposure, HPV infection, cancer-causing chemicals, genes, and a weak immune system can cause Keratoacanthoma. The typical signs and symptoms of keratoacanthoma may include a solitary, rapidly growing lump on the sun-exposed skin of the face, upper limbs, head, neck, arms, and sometimes legs, a small, red or skin-colored volcano-like lump on the skin and at the top of the lump that often has keratin or dead skin cells.
Figure 01: Keratoacanthoma
Keratoacanthoma is usually diagnosed through physical examination, a biopsy, or a piece of the tumor examined under the microscope. Furthermore, treatment options for keratoacanthoma may include chemotherapy drug 5-fluorouracil, injections of chemotherapy drugs such as bleomycin or methotrexate, radiation, drugs like retinoids taken by mouth, and surgery.
What is Squamous Cell Carcinoma?
Squamous cell carcinoma is a common form of skin cancer that begins in the squamous cells. Squamous cells make up the middle and outer layers of the skin. Squamous cell carcinoma normally occurs due to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation, either from direct sunlight or from tanning beds or lamps. Moreover, signs and symptoms of squamous cell carcinoma may include firm, red lumps on the skin, flat sores with a scaly crust on the skin, a new sore on an old scar, a rough and scaly patch on the lip that may turn to an open sore, a red sore inside the mouth, and a red raised patch on or in the anus or on the genitals. The risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma include fair skin, excessive sun exposure, use of a tanning bed, a history of sunburn, a personal history of precancerous skin lesions such as actinic keratosis or Bowen’s disease, and a personal history of skin cancers.
Figure 02: Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, and removing a sample of tissue for laboratory testing. Furthermore, squamous cell carcinoma is treated through curettage and electrodesiccation (C and E), laser therapy, freezing, photodynamic therapy, simple excision procedure, Mohs surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy, and immunotherapy.
What are the Similarities Between Keratoacanthoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma?
- Keratoacanthoma and squamous cell carcinoma are two different types of skin cancers.
- Both skin cancers may have similar symptoms, such as red lumps growing in different regions of the body, etc.
- Both cancers can be caused by excessive sun exposure.
- These cancers can be diagnosed through physical examination and skin biopsy.
- They can be treated through chemotherapy and specific surgeries.
What is the Difference Between Keratoacanthoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma?
Keratoacanthoma is a skin cancer that originates from the hair follicle or pilosebaceous unit, while squamous cell carcinoma is a skin cancer that originates from the squamous cells. Thus, this is the key difference between keratoacanthoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Furthermore, keratoacanthoma is comparatively less common than squamous cell carcinoma.
The infographic below presents the differences between keratoacanthoma and squamous cell carcinoma in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Keratoacanthoma vs Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Skin cancer is an abnormal growth of skin cells normally caused by harmful rays of the sun or sun exposure. They are not contagious and generally not life-threatening. There are different types of skin cancers, such as basal cell skin cancer, melanoma, non-melanoma, etc. Keratoacanthoma and squamous cell carcinoma are two different types of skin cancers. Keratoacanthoma originates from hair follicles or pilosebaceous glands, whereas squamous cell carcinoma originates from squamous cells. So, this is the key difference between keratoacanthoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
Reference:
1. “Keratoacanthoma.” DermNet.
2. “Skin Cancer Types: Squamous Cell Carcinoma Overview.” American Academy of Dermatology.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Keratoacanthoma (3), H&E” By Ed Uthman, MD – (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Squamous Cell Carcinoma” By BruceBlaus – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia