Acrochordon on the Left Axilla

A 43-year-old woman requested removal of a lesion from her left axilla because it had recently become irritated. The polypoid lesion with dried terminal ulceration had been present for 17 years.

Robert P. Blereau, MD of Morgan City, La, excised the lesion with elliptical incisions. Because it resembled a cutaneous horn-which may harbor squamous cell carcinoma in its base-a pathologic microscopic examination was performed. The diagnosis was benign acrochordon-also known as skin tag, soft fibroma, and cutaneous papilloma.

This patient required no further treatment. Clear-cut acrochordons also may be treated by freezing with liquid nitrogen or by simple electrodesiccation.