Giant Pilomatricoma Mistaken for a Malignant Tumor.

Pilomatricomas are tumors originating from the matrices of hair follicles. Giant pilomatricomas, defined as pilomatricomas that are 5 cm or larger, are benign but may appear malignant clinically. We present the case of a 69-year-old man with a rapidly growing mass on his scalp. When he visited our department, the tumor measured 10.0×6.0×4.0 cm and showed inflammation and ulceration. Magnetic resonance imaging and 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography showed findings resembling lymph node metastasis from a malignant tumor. However, upon an incisional biopsy, the tumor was diagnosed as a pilomatricoma. Therefore, we performed an excisional biopsy instead of radical surgery and lymph node dissection. The tumor was ultimately diagnosed as a giant pilomatricoma based on the excisional biopsy, and the patient received reconstruction only at the site of the defect. A giant pilomatricoma can be mistaken for a malignant tumor due to its characteristics. In such uncertain cases, it can be helpful to first perform an excisional biopsy. Copyright © 2022 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.

Citation

Jun Ho Choi, Sang Seong Oh, Kwang Seog Kim, Won Joo Hwang, Yoo Duk Choi, Jae Ha Hwang, Sam Yong Lee. Giant Pilomatricoma Mistaken for a Malignant Tumor. The Journal of craniofacial surgery. 2023 Jul-Aug 01;34(5):e409-e410

Mesh Tags

PMID: 36730872

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