Keratoacanthoma: facial lesion requiring radical excision

Keratoacanthoma is a common skin lesion of the head and neck region, particularly of the central face. Although it is a benign tumor, it may mimic a well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma in its clinical and particularly its histologic appearance. Two cases of squamous cell carcinoma are presented in which the histologic diagnosis of keratoacanthoma was made. Serious errors in treatment may arise from reliance on the histologic characteristics alone. Conservative treatment of keratoacanthomas should be avoided. Prompt and total excision is the treatment of choice.