Cutaneous Horns

Cutaneous Horns

When does it start?

Cutaneous horns generally start at the ages of 60-70 years old or even older.

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Kelly Wolvington

This woman is 103.

Genes?

Its not really a "gene thing." Although it doesn't happen to african people or any other race other than caucasian people.

Fair skinned people have a higher chance than anyone else because of the sun and the lesions that can occur from it.

How is it diagnosed?

Most people feel a rough patch of skin on their body and assume its a mole or a wart. It contirnues to grow and most people don't do anything about it until it takes to its horn shape. They go in for a biopsy.

Many of the patients' families have a past with skin cancer or cell tumors and actually proves to have more of a chance with it.

What did I learn from my research?

What are cutaneous horns?

Distribution of cutaneous horn usually appears on sun-exposed areas, especially on the face, nose, arms, back of hands

I learned that the "Unicorn Man" is not a myth and these horns do exist. I also learned that only caucasians can have it, more fiar skinned than others. It can come come from a simple mole or wart and can cause cancer. It can be very serious but the majority of the time, it can be removed with surgery. Cutaneous horns date back all the way to the 16th century and that they only appear on the elderly.

Symptoms

Treatments

Continued

If the lesion is precancerous, freeze it with liquid nitrogen, then use a medication that stimulates the immune system. Finally scrape or burn off the lesion.

If the lesion is benign, no further treatment is needed.

Cutaneous horns are a clinical diagnosis referring to a projection of compacted keratin through the surface of the skin.

It occurs most often on sun-exposed skin, but it can appear anywhere. It does not spread though.

It is caused by retained dead skin cells over an underlying growth. Some doctors say that radiation from the sun can help trigger it.

It is part of the newly discovered HPV-2 related to the common skin warts.

If the lesion is cancerous, the physician may perform surgey. Again use a medication that stimulates the immune system and scrape or burn off the lesion.

Radiation therapy is recommended.

Cause of the Disorder?

-Unknown etiology

-Radiation exposure

-Human papilloma virus-2 subtype (warts, skin patches, e.t.c)

When did it first appear?

"Detection of HPV-2 and identification of novel mutations by whole genome sequencing from biopsies of two patients with multiple cutaneous horns."

Cutaneous Horns are mutations of various people with multiple cutaneous horns.

The first documented case was that of Mary Davis who died in 1688 at the age of 71. She had 4 cutaneous horns which are now presented in the Museum of Jurrasic Technology.

One of the first reports was in 1588 involving Margaret Gryffith when appearing on a stage in London as a "miraculous and monstrous" woman.

Treatment?

First, a biopsy is needed to determine the base of the lesion, whether it is benign, precancerous, or cancerous.. Then, it is determined if you are cured with surgery and therapy that follows.

How is the disorder inherited?

Citations.

The disorder isn't sex-linked. Its passed as a virus, BUT there are other related disorders that are extremely similar, however sex-linked because of a defect in the chromosome.

Though, the disorder can mainly be caused by the suns rays leading to skin cancer and its RARELY found in any other race besides caucasian people, fair skinned at most.

skinsight. (2008, December 28). Retrieved from http://www.skinsight.com/adult/cutaneousHorn-treatments.htm (treatment and pictures)

Perri, M.D, A. J. (2011, February 06). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://perridermatology.com/blog/2011/2/6/actinic-keratosis-cutaneous-horn.html (genes and causes)

Right, D. (2012, November 06). Cutaneous horn. Retrieved from http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/sym/cutaneous_horn.htm (symptoms and pictures)

administrator. (2011, January 07). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://medicaldb.blogspot.com/2011/01/cutaneous-horn.html (history and possibility of disorder in age, and race)

A punnett square is not available because skin cancer develops over time because of the sun's radiation.