The clinical and histopathological features of KA are similar to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin, which often complicates a differential diagnosis.
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KA usually appears as a skin-colored papule with a central keratin core similar to a “volcano”: it grows for a period of 2 to 4 weeks, reaching up to 2 cm at its largest.
The tumor usually appears on sun-exposed areas in middle-aged or older patients, which suggests an etiological association with ultraviolet light exposure.
Other factors that may contribute to the development of KAs are genetic factors,
immunosuppression, potentially carcinogenic chemicals, viruses, and trauma.
Clinically, KA may appear as a sporadic solitary lesion or as multiple lesions associated with hereditary syndromes. KAs can be associated with a condition called Muir-Torre syndrome, which involves multiple sebaceous neoplasms and internal malignancies such as colon cancer; in such a situation, KA may be present in anybody region.
The aim of this paper is to briefly review and discuss the literature about KA and present a case report with a 2-year follow-up of the removal of a KA lesion in the upper lip.
