What is "acanthoma"

n. (context medicine English) A neoplasm of the prickle cell layer of the skin

n. a neoplasm originating in the epidermis [syn: skin tumor]

An acanthoma is a skin neoplasm composed of squamous or epidermal cells. It is located in the prickle cell layer.

Types of acanthoma include pilar sheath acanthoma, a benign follicular tumor usually of the upper lip; clear cell acanthoma, a benign tumor found most frequently on the legs; and Degos acanthoma, often confused with but unrelated to Degos disease.