Tricholemmal cysts of the head and neck.
OBJECTIVE
Tricholemmal cysts, sometimes termed pilomatrixomas, are benign skin neoplasms. This study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical experience with management of pilomatrixomas at a large, referral-based university hospital.


METHODS
The records of patients treated at the UCLA Medical Center were reviewed retrospectively. Patients treated during the years 1966 to 1991 inclusive were reviewed for details of the clinical course. All pathology slides were confirmed histologically.


RESULTS
Pilomatrixoma was confirmed in 53 patients. Of these, 29 patients (55%) had pilomatrixoma isolated to the head and neck region. All were treated with surgical excision. One patient (3%) experienced recurrence due to inadequate initial excision. Subsequent re-excision resulted in a cure.


CONCLUSIONS
Tricholemmal cysts present as solitary, painless, slow-growing cutaneous nodules often resulting in discoloration of the overlying skin. Simple excision cures this benign neoplasm, and recurrences are rare. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy may aid in the diagnostic workup.
Wang
M B
MB
Division of Head and Neck Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine 90024.
Abemayor
E
E
Fu
Y S
YS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002610:Cheek / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*