Intracutaneous cornifying epithelioma ("keratoacanthoma") of dogs and keratoacanthoma of man.

The intracutaneous cornifying epithelioma ("keratoacanthoma") of dogs was compared with keratoacanthoma of man based on findings in the literature and in house studies. The two tumors differ at the following points: epithelium of origin, rate of growth, infiltration, spontaneous involution, breed predisposition (Norwegian Elkhound, generalized form), occurrence in dogs at a younger or middle age. The development of this tumor in dogs seems to be comparable with the development of so-called keratoacanthoma in Mastomys natalensis, which is virus-induced. Further investigations have been initiated to uncover the possible virus nature of the intracutaneous cornifying epthelioma (so-called keratoacanthoma) in dogs.