What is a keratoacanthoma?
The papules and nodules seen in Grzybowski syndrome resemble a common skin lesion, keratoacanthoma. However, keratocanthoma is derived from hair follicle cells and does not normally affect mucosal surfaces such as the mouth as is the case in Grzybowski syndrome. Keratoacanthoma may favour sun exposed areas, but can affect covered areas as well. Like keratoacanthoma, individual Grzybowski lesions erupt, persist for a few weeks and then clear. Witten and Zak described a similar condition in which there were giant keratoacanthomas. Luckily, despite the resemblance of the eruptive keratoacanthomas to the skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, they behave in a benign fashion in Grzybowski syndrome. The lesions do not spread to the lymph nodes or affect internal organs so general health is unaffected. However, the severe itching and abnormal appearance can lead to severe depression.
