The status of the seborrheic keratosis

Seborrheic keratosis (SK), whose appearance is generally a small roundish reddish to brownish scaling lesion ranging in size from a few mm to many mm, may have a single presentation or be one of many such lesions. Because it is a commonly encountered lesion on the face, trunk, or extemities and is readily recognized clinically, it is infrequently biopsied. When the lesion has an unusual pattern or has become irritated, it may rarely mimic a malignancy,Most patients ignore such common age spots; however, others may have concern about their appearence, in which case the SKs have been surgicaly excised. In recent retrospective studies and case reports, SKs have rarely been found to have malignant characteristics. Although these studies are inconclusive, lesions that are inflamed, bleeding, ulcerated, or sufficiently irritated may require being biopsied to rule out melanoma or other malignancies. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.