A cutaneous horn is firm to hard to the touch. This image displays a cutaneous horn with a squamous cell carcinoma at the base. This image displays a cutaneous horn with a red, cancerous skin lesion at the base. This image displays a cutaneous horn arising from a squamous cell carcinoma. Cutaneous horns typically occur on sun-exposed body parts, as displayed in this image. This image displays a cutaneous horn on the neck. Not all cutaneous horns are pointed. Like all cutaneous horns, this lesion is extremely hard to the touch. <br />
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Cutaneous Horn  Information for adults

Picture of Cutaneous Horn: A cutaneous horn is firm to hard to the touch. Divider line
A cutaneous horn is firm to hard to the touch.
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Overview
A cutaneous horn, also known as cornu cutaneum, refers to a specific appearance of a skin lesion in which a cone-shaped protuberance arises on the skin caused by overgrowth of the most superficial layer of skin (epidermis). A cutaneous horn is not a particular lesion but is a reaction pattern of the skin. Approximately 40% of cutaneous horns represent precancerous lesions called actinic keratoses. Cutaneous horns may also overlie skin cancer. When overlying cancerous skin, squamous cell carcinoma is typically at the base of the cutaneous horn, but basal cell carcinoma is also possible.
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Last Modified: 22 Dec 2008
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