Clown nose: a case of disfiguring nodular squamous cell carcinoma of the face

BMJ Case Rep. 2014 Jan 31:2014:bcr2013200471. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2013-200471.

Abstract

'Clown nose' (CN) is the common medical term referring to a reddish-brown bulge involving the tip of the nose, reminding of a clown's fake red nose. Reports about these tumours are scarce. Most reports refer to metastatic skin manifestation of systemic malignancies: this condition has been rarely described as a primary skin neoplasm. We report a case of a 31-year-old patient with a giant cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the nose which evolved into a CN. After ruling out genetic or immune risk factors, the patient was treated with surgical excision of the lesion and local reconstruction with good aesthetic outcome and no recurrence over a 2-year follow-up.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nose Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Nose Neoplasms / surgery
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / surgery