Squamous cell carcinoma masquerading as rhinophyma

A rhinophyma lesion can mask the existence of coexisting occult skin cancers, and many types of tumors can mimic a rhinophyma. Although several coexistent malignant tumors have been reported in patients with rhinophyma, few reports have described the coexistence of rhinophyma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Herein, we report on a case of SCC in a 45-year-old man who presented with 2-month-history of a painful, erythematous, globular plaque on the tip of his nose and this lesion mimicked a rhinophyma lesion. The histopathologic examination showed a proliferation of atypical squamous cells that extended into the dermis, which was consistent with SCC. He was treated with surgical excision, and there has been no evidence of recurrence during the follow-up period of 1 year. (Ann Dermatol (Seoul) 21(1)81∼83,2009).