[Warty dyskeratoma. Analysis and case reports]

Warty dyskeratoma (WD) may be observed in both whites and negros. It is usually small single isolated brown nodule with a prevalent localization of the head of aged males. During the last 4 1/2 years 20 cases were recognized at the Perugia Dermatological Clinic, representing 3.8% of 522 biopsied clinically similar skin tumors. The ratio of WD with keratoacanthoma was 1.3 and with squamous-cell carcinoma 1:5. In 4 cases a lesion clinically similar to squamous-cell carcinoma but with histological picture of WD was localized of the lower prolabium. The excision was the treatment of choice. On the basis of our findings and from a survey of the literature a clinico-pathological picture of the disease is described. Three points are emphasized: 1. WD is frequently localized on the head; when localized on the lower prolabium squamous-cell carcinoma mast be considered in differential diagnosis; 2. no clinical feature is peculiar of the disease; 3. surgical excision is essential for a correct diagnosis when histological examinations are performed on orthogonal and medial sections.