Acta Med. 2023, 66: 158-160

https://doi.org/10.14712/18059694.2024.11

Commonly Misdiagnosed Facial Lesion: Pilomatricoma

Tan Ying Xina, Jeyasakthy Saniasiayaa, Jeyanthi Kulasegaraha, Chiew Seow Fanb

aDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Jalan Universiti, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, WP Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
bDepartment of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Jalan Universiti, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, WP Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received May 29, 2023
Accepted February 7, 2024

Pilomatricoma, also known as Pilamatrixoma or Malherbe’s calcifying epithelioma, is a benign skin tumour with a bimodal age distribution between the paediatric and elderly age groups. Although it was previously thought to be rare, recent studies have revealed that it is quite common. Typically, pilomatricoma is diagnosed following histopathological examination of the lesion as it is frequently misdiagnosed with other types of skin pathology. In our case, the child presented with painless swelling of the left infraauricular region. The initial cytology and imaging were unable to provide a definite diagnosis. An excision biopsy was done, and a histopathological examination was suggestive of Pilomatricoma. Therefore, Pilomatricoma ought to be considered in the differential diagnosis of head and neck lesions in hopes of providing a better understanding on this pathological lesion.

References

9 live references