Bilateral Cervical Pilomatricoma: A Diagnostic Dilemma for the Pediatric Otolaryngologist

Ear Nose Throat J. 2022 Jul;101(6):368-371. doi: 10.1177/0145561320958978. Epub 2020 Sep 28.

Abstract

Pilomatricomas are benign skin tumors often encountered by otolaryngologists but frequently misdiagnosed. Although they can occur at any age, they commonly present in children as a discolored superficial lesion adhered to the overlying skin. Accurate preoperative diagnosis is crucial for appropriate management, which is surgical in most cases. Here, we present bilateral pilomatricomas mimicking features of several other diagnoses in a pediatric patient. The patient was successfully treated with surgical excision. This case presented a unique diagnostic challenge, as the lesions exhibited features of several common diagnoses. In general, surgical management of pilomatricoma is curative, and recurrence is rare.

Keywords: diagnosis; differential; hair follicle; pilomatrixoma; ultrasonography.

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Hair Diseases* / diagnosis
  • Hair Diseases* / pathology
  • Hair Diseases* / surgery
  • Humans
  • Otolaryngologists
  • Pilomatrixoma* / diagnosis
  • Pilomatrixoma* / pathology
  • Pilomatrixoma* / surgery
  • Skin / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Skin Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms* / surgery