Search
acrochordon (skin tag)
Very common, soft tan or brown, round or oval pedunculated benign skin neoplasm. Size varies from 1-10 mm.
Epidemiology:
1) more common in middle-age & elderly
2) more common in females
3) more common in obese individuals
Pathology:
1) thinned epidermis
2) loose fibrous tissue stroma
Clinical manifestations:
1) generally asymptomatic
2) may become tender following trauma or torsion
3) distribution
a) frequently occur in intertriginous areas
- axilla, breast fold beneath the breast, groin
b) neck
c) eyelids
4) lesions tend to get larger & more numerous over time
5) pregnancy enhances growth of skin tags
*images [3]
Differential diagnosis:
1) pedunculated seborrheic keratosis
2) dermal or compound melanocytic nevus
3) solitary neurofibroma
4) molluscum contagiosum
Laboratory:
- skin biopsy not needed [2]
Management:
1) cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen
2) excision
Related
melanocytic nevus (mole)
molluscum contagiosum
neurofibroma
papilloma (papillary tumor)
seborrheic keratosis
General
skin neoplasm
References
- Color Atlas & Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology, Common
& Serious Diseases, 3rd ed, Fitzpatrick et al, McGraw Hill, NY,
1997, pg 176
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 17, 18.
American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2015, 2018.
- DermNet NZ. Skin tags (images)
http://www.dermnetnz.org/lesions/skin-tags.html