Inverted Follicular Keratosis of the Ear Lobe Masquerading as Malignancy

    October 2025 in “ The Sri Lanka Journal of Dermatology ”
    Augusto Silva, A. S. Danthanarayana, N. L. Dinaratne, Mohammed Ismail Benazir, J. Akarawita
    TLDR Inverted follicular keratosis can look like cancer but is actually a harmless tumor.
    Inverted follicular keratosis (IFK) is a rare benign tumor that can be mistaken for malignancies like squamous cell carcinoma due to its appearance. This report discusses a 66-year-old male with a painful nodule on his ear lobe, initially suspected to be malignant. A punch biopsy confirmed it as IFK, emphasizing the importance of histopathological examination for accurate diagnosis. Surgical excision is the recommended treatment. This case illustrates the diagnostic challenges of IFK, especially when it occurs in uncommon locations like the ear lobe.
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