Seborrheic keratosis of the cheek simulating squamous cell carcinoma

Seborrheic keratoses are benign tumours that occur electively on the head, neck and trunk. It can be confused on its clinical appearance with other skin tumours and it is the histological examination that establishes the diagnosis. We report a case of seborrheic keratosis simulating squamous cell carcinoma.

A 62-year-old woman consulted for a budding right jugal lesion that had been evolving for 6 months. Clinical examination found a right jugal budding lesion with crusts on its surface, pedunculated, surrounded by a hyperpigmented halo at its base, firm to palpation, painless and non bleeding on contact. An initial biopsy of the lesion for histological examination confirmed the diagnosis, followed by complete surgical excision.

Seborrheic keratoses are benign tumours that occur mainly in subjects over 50 years of age. They occur electively on the trunk, head and neck. Its clinical aspect is generally typical but sometimes misleading, as found in our case; only histology allows to make the diagnosis of certainty.