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Skin tumors

We also perform surgery for skin lesions other than cysts and lipomas.
The following is a list of typical cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors.

Pilomatricoma

This is a subcutaneous tumor in which a portion of the skin becomes a hard, calcareous lump, also known as pilomatrixoma. It is most common in young people under the age of 20, and is more likely to occur in women. It often appears on the face, neck and arms. Because they are tumors, they grow slowly. Sometimes, bacteria may enter the tumor and cause it to swell so we recommend treating it by excision.

Dermatofibroma

These are brown skin tumors up to 3cm in size that are often seen on the arms and legs. Usually dermatofibromas are slightly raised from the surface of the skin and seen after insect bites or minor injuries. Treatment is excision.

Warts (viral warts) and Verruca Vulgaris

Viral warts are treated with liquid nitrogen by dermatologists and other specialists. Since they often require a number of treatments, our clinic uses radiofrequency scalpels or excision scalpel, depending on the symptoms.

Acrochordon(skin tags) and soft fibromas

These are small dark warts measuring 1 to 2mm in diameter that appear on the neck and underarms. They tend to appear in areas prone to friction. Many may appear in the same area from around the age of 30 and thought to be an age-related change. Those that appear on the body are called soft fibromas. They can be removed with scissors, a scalpel or a radiofrequency scalpel.

Xanthelasma

Xanthelasma occur mainly in the inner corner of the upper eyelid. About half of them are associated with hypercholesterolemia. Treatment is excision, but medical therapy may also be used.

Dermoid Cyst

This is a round benign tumor that is most commonly found on the face, including the orbital area. It is a relatively deep subcutaneous tumor that is not adherent to the skin but often adheres to the periosteum. The contents of the cyst are a creamy substance containing hair and lipids. Treatment is surgical removal. If cerebral palsy symptoms are suspected, imaging studies will be performed and the patient may be referred to a university hospital or other institution.

Nevus Sebaceous

A yellowish nevus (birthmark) that is present at birth and mostly found on the head. If left untreated, it can grow and become a warty mass. Patients often present with baldness of the head but treatment by excision can result in hair loss due to scarring at the site of excision. Surgery should be performed after careful consideration of the risk of tumor formation and appearance.

Pyogenic Granuloma

This is a red, soft skin tumor ranging in size from 5mm to 1.2cm. It is a benign tumor that is a proliferation of small blood vessels but it bleeds easily. They tend to appear on the face, head and fingers. Treatment includes steroids and cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen but we recommend excision because it takes time and there is a risk of bleeding during the treatment.

Schwannoma

A benign tumor that forms from the Schwann cells of peripheral nerves. Subcutaneous Schwannomas are mainly treated in plastic surgery. Pressure on the lump causes pain and numbness. Treatment is surgical excision where a careful treatment is required to avoid any nerve damage during removal.

Ganglion Cyst

A cyst from the size of a grain of rice to a ping-pong ball forms around a joint which may cause discomfort. Also it may compress the nerve and cause pain. Treatment is by injectable aspiration or excision. However, recurrence is common in both cases. In our clinic, we try to prevent recurrence by removing the cyst from the joint capsule.

Glomus tumors (Paragangliomas)

These are dark red to purple-red, painful subcutaneous tumors that occur under the nail beds of the fingers in adulthood or later. The pain may be intensified by cold fingertips or other factors. It is necessary to remove the tumor by peeling off the nail and there is a risk of deformation of the nail after surgery.

Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor

This is a benign tumor that arises in the sheaths of tendons located in the fingers of the hands and toes. It is said to occur more frequently in women. The tumor grows slowly but as it grows, it can interfere with daily life by making it difficult to use fingers and other parts of the body and surgical removal is recommended.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)

Neurofibromatosis type 1 is a type of genetic nevus disease characterized by café-au-lait like brown spots and cause various symptoms in the bones, eyes and nerves. The main treatment at our clinic is excision.

Steatocystoma multiplex

These are multiple subcutaneous tumors that occur after puberty in the armpits, chest and upper limbs. It is a relatively rare disease but the multiple occurrences require a large number of treatments. The treatment is resection.

Syringoma

A small skin tumor the size of a grain of rice with a normal skin tone to yellowish or brownish color that is predominantly located on the lower eyelid. It is most common in women after puberty due to proliferation of sweat-producing organs.

Milia

These are small white cysts of 1 to 2mm or less in size that occur around the eyes and on the cheeks. They are small keratinous masses that form on the skin. It is most often seen in young women. There are treatments to remove the clogged keratin through an incision with a scalpel or a needle.

Sebaceous Hyperplasia

This is formed by an increase in the number of sebaceous glands in the pores. It often appears on the forehead and cheeks after middle age. Surgery is available to remove the sebaceous glands by shaving the skin with a radiofrequency scalpel.

Hidradenitis suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa is considered a chronic, inflammatory, recurrent, wasting skin disease of hair follicles. It is characterized by painful nodules, abscesses and scars in the deeper layers of the skin. Commonly found in underarms, groin, perineum and buttocks. It is a chronic disease that is usually intractable because of recurrent inflammation and the formation of ant's nest-like fistulas under the skin. If the inflammation is severe, an incision is made or if possible the lesion is excised. The antibody drug called HUMIRA® is now covered by insurance and increasing treatment options.