Question

Potato tumor (rhinophyma) is due to?

• A. Hypotrophy of sebaceous glands of the nose
• B. Hypertrophy of sebaceous glands of the nose
• C. Hypotrophy of sweat glands of the nose
• D. Hypertrophy of sweat glands of the nose

Hint:

The bulbous red nose of end-stage rosacea is an overgrowth of oil-producing glands.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Rhinophyma, also called potato tumor, is a large, bulb-shaped, ruddy red nose. It is a slow-growing benign lesion.

Step 2: It results from hypertrophy of the sebaceous glands of the nose, so the correct option is hypertrophy of sebaceous glands. It is regarded as a severe end-stage form of acne rosacea, and the cause is otherwise unknown.

Step 3: The red or pink colour is due to engorgement of the superficial vessels. It mainly affects men past middle age. The old belief that it is caused by heavy alcohol intake is incorrect; it occurs equally in non-drinkers.

Step 4: Treatment is surgical reshaping using carbon dioxide laser, scalpel, or dermabrasion, allowing the area to re-epithelialise; sometimes the tumour is excised and skin-grafted. The sweat-gland options are therefore wrong.