ICONOGRAPHY

Comparative dermatology

Márcia Rodrigues Garbin Pereira

Dermatologist, Specialist at "Sociedade Brasileira de Dermatologia"

Correspondence

SUMMARY

The following demonstrative case exhibits the likenesses between a dermatological lesion and photographic images of items found in nature or daily life.

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this photographic essay presentation is to demonstrate the likeness between keratoacanthoma (Figure 1) and Punica granatum (pomegranate) (Figure 2).

Very common in elderly patients and usually appearing alone, the lesion is a firm nodule with a cupola shape measuring 1 to 2 cm in diameter. The center has a crater with horny material. It develops in a few weeks' time most often on sun-exposed areas and progresses spontaneously for a few months (median: six months). Its spontaneous cure determines a slightly depressed scar.

In the case presented in this paper, the lesion is solitary. It has a cupola shape and measures roughly 4 cm in diameter, 1 cm in height and has no any central horny material on the distal third of the extensor surface of the left arm (Figure 1).

The likeness to the Punica granatum fruit (pomegranate) is very significant indeed (Figure 2). q

Correspondence to
Márcia Rodrigues Garbin Pereira
Rua Osório Prudenciano de Souza, 292
Jd. Ouro Verde Borborema SP 14955-000
Tel.: (16) 3266-2430

Received in September, 17^th of 2002
Approved by the Editorial Council and accepted for publication in December, 12^th of 2002

Work done at "Clínica Santa Rita"