Pilomatrixoma Mimicking a Pyogenic Granuloma Clinically: A Rare Case Report from Syria

1. INTRODUCTION

Pilomatrixoma, also referred to as pilomatricoma, or calcifying epithelioma of Malherbe is a rare neoplasm arising from the hair matrix [1]. It is usually a solitary lesion and is most commonly found on the head, neck region, and upper extremities [2, 3]. It presents as a slow-growing, subcutaneous nodule smaller than 3 cm [3]. Pilomatrixomas are often confused clinically with other benign masses [4]. Here, we report a rare case of pilomatrixoma mimicking pyogenic granuloma on the left cheek in a 9-year-old boy.

2. CASE REPORT

A 9-year-old boy first visited the dermatology clinic due to an asymptomatic nodular mass on the left cheek, which had been presented for 2 months (Fig. 1).

Clinical examination revealed that the mass was red, fixed, well-defined and it was smaller than 1 cm in diameter. Routine blood investigations (CBC) revealed no abnormality. The clinical diagnosis was made as pyogenic granuloma. The patient did not use any specific drugs and had no history of allergy. There was no tumor history in her family; particularly no history of skin tumors. An excisional biopsy was performed and sent to the pathology department for histopathological study. A pathologic review of the excised mass demonstrated a relatively well-circumscribed, whitish solid lesion, measuring 2.5 cm in maximum diameter. The cut surface was gray-white with chalky deposits. Microscopically, the tumor is composed of a lobular proliferation of small basaloid cells (Fig. 2A). Ghost cells, enlarged epithelial cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm, but without a nucleus, are seen (Fig. 2B). The tumor cells are surrounded by fibroblastic stroma (Fig. 2C). with foreign body giant cells (Fig. 2D). The final diagnosis was pilomatrixoma. The patient was discharged on the same day, without any complications.

3. DISCUSSION

Pilomatrixoma, first described as a “calcified epithelioma of Malherbe” in 1880, is a nodular, benign tumor arising from the hair matrix. It occurs predominantly in children and young adults, and most of the cases are located on the head, neck, and upper extremities [5-7]. It presents as a slow-growing, firm nodule less than 3 cm [1, 3]. Microscopically, it is composed of solid nests of small basaloid cells and shadow cells (ghost cells) that are eosinophilic-stained with nuclear concentration and disappearance [2]. Local recurrence may occur if excision is incomplete; therefore, wide local excision with confirmed negative margins represents the treatment of choice for pilomatrixoma [1, 2]. Malignant transformation of pilomatrixoma into a pilomatrix carcinoma should be suspected in cases with repeated local recurrences [3, 4]. The differential diagnoses of pilomatrixoma include basal cell carcinoma, pyogenic granuloma, and epidermal cyst [4, 8]. However, pyogenic granuloma of the skin appears as rapidly growing, smooth or lobulated, reddish exophytic vascular nodules, in any size from a few millimeters to several centimeters, and it usually occurs in teenagers, young adults, and during pregnancy [9, 10].

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