Pilomatricoma of the Head and Neck: A Retrospective Review of 179 Cases

• Published in: Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery Vol. 129; no. 12; pp. 1327 - 1330
• Main Authors: Lan, Ming-Ying, Lan, Ming-Chin, Ho, Ching-Yin, Li, Wing-Yin, Lin, Ching-Zong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL American Medical Association 01.12.2003
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy, Needle; Child; Child, Preschool; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Hair Diseases - diagnosis; Hair Diseases - epidemiology; Hair Diseases - surgery; Head and Neck Neoplasms - diagnosis; Head and Neck Neoplasms - epidemiology; Head and Neck Neoplasms - surgery; Head and neck surgery. Maxillofacial surgery. Dental surgery. Orthodontics; Humans; Infant; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - epidemiology; Otorhinolaryngology (head neck, general aspects and miscellaneous); Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Patient Selection; Pilomatrixoma - diagnosis; Pilomatrixoma - epidemiology; Pilomatrixoma - surgery; Preoperative Care - methods; Retrospective Studies; Sex Distribution; Skin Neoplasms - diagnosis; Skin Neoplasms - epidemiology; Skin Neoplasms - surgery; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the upper aerodigestive tract; Taiwan - epidemiology; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome; Tumors; Taiwan; Human; Skin disease; Radiodiagnosis; Retrospective; Symptomatology; Anatomic pathology; Histopathology; Treatment; Exeresis; Surgery; Head and neck; Medical imagery; Surgical approach; Clinical investigation; Benign calcifying epithelioma of Malherbe; Computerized axial tomography; Benign neoplasm; Diagnosis; Technique
• ISSN: 0886-4470; 2168-6181; 1538-361X; 2168-619X
• DOI: 10.1001/archotol.129.12.1327

OBJECTIVE To describe the clinical presentations and management of pilomatricoma, formerly known as pilomatrixoma, of the head and neck. DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING Tertiary care center. PATIENTS The study included 179 patients with a diagnosis of pilomatricoma of the head and neck. INTERVENTION All patients underwent surgical excision for pilomatricoma of the head and neck between 1991 and 2002. RESULTS Pilomatricoma occurred at any age (mean age, 29.8 years); 45.3% of the cases occurred in patients younger than 18 years. The female-male ratio was 0.97:1. The average size of the lesion was 1 cm. The most common sites of occurrence were the neck (30.2%), cheeks (16.8%), scalp (16.2%), and brow and periorbital area (14.0%). Multiple occurrence was found in 1 case. Two of 179 tumors recurred after surgical excision. CONCLUSIONS Because preoperative diagnosis of pilomatricoma is usually incorrect, careful clinical examination and a high index of suspicion would result in a more accurate diagnosis. Complete surgical excision is the treatment of choice. Otolaryngologists should consider pilomatricoma in the differential diagnosis of neck masses.Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2003;129:1327-1330-->