Can Keloids Become Cancerous?

asked 2 years ago by 3049anon in philippines
Latest answer by Stephen Prendiville, MD
Question viewed 2,091 times

is keloid on shoulder dangerous? and there is a possibility on that keloid become cancerous?

4 answers to Can Keloids Become Cancerous?

Can Keloids Become Cancerous

One can never say never, but carcinogenic transformation in a keloid would be highly unusual. It would be described as a "case report", or medical oddball. Dr. Oppenheim's comment about misdiagnosis is very true.

Stephen Prendiville, MD
Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

No Keloids Cannot Become Cancerous

A keloid is due to an over-enthusiastic response to injury. It is benign overgrowth of fibrous tissue leaping over the boundaries of normal healing. Occasionally, there can be a misdiagnosis. What is thought to be a keloid may in fact be a malignancy such as a dermatofibroma protuberans ( DFSP), a sclerotic basal cell carcinoma, or a malignancy developing from a scar, especially one that has been irradiated. However, a keloid itself, though sometimes... more

Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD
Virginia Beach Dermatologist

Can keloids become cancers

Any abnoramility in the skin can potentially become a skin cancer especially in the presence of chronic irritation. The question is what is the likelihood of that happening. In the case of keloids that likelihood is extremely low and would be more dependent on the cause of the keloid than the keloid itself.

Aaron Stone, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Can a keloid become cancerous?

With rare exception, do keloids become cancerous. Occaionally a skin cancer can be confused as as keloid. However, any scar has the potential to develop into a cancer. This is more likely with a longstanding burn and is called a Marjolin's ulcer.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Ask a question