Uncommon benign tumour of the skin: infraorbital pilomatricoma

BMJ Case Rep. 2016 Jan 6:2016:bcr2015213561. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2015-213561.

Abstract

Pilomatricoma is a relatively rare tumour of the skin derived from primitive basal cells of epidermis that differentiate into hair matrix cells. It comprises approximately 1% of all benign skin tumours. The most common sites for pilomatricomas are the head, neck and upper extremities. A 44-year-old woman, admitted to our department, underwent an orthopantomography examination, which revealed a well-circumscribed 1.6×1.4 mm radiopaque mass superimposed between the medial wall of the right maxillary sinus and lateral wall of the nasal cavity. Clinically, it was firm and mobile, and remained attached to the underlying skin when palpated. A cone beam CT scan was performed to ascertain its location and anatomic relations. Subsequently, it was totally excised under local anaesthesia. Histopathological evaluation of the lesion reported it to be a pilomatricoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Epidermis / pathology*
  • Face
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pilomatrixoma / diagnosis*
  • Radiography, Panoramic
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis*