title: Pilomatrixoma: a common, benign childhood skin tumour.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review recent experience with pilomatrixoma, particularly with respect to diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chart review for an 8-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  A university-affiliated children's hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty children with 51 histologically proven pilomatrixomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Excision of the lesion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical presentation, diagnosis and pathological findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The clinical presentation was typically that of an asymptomatic superficial mass that increased slowly in size and was located in the head and neck (78%) or chest and upper limbs. In one case the mass increased rapidly over 2 weeks and changed in colour from red to purple with areas of pink and tan. The referring diagnosis was incorrect in 94% of cases, and the preoperative diagnosis was incorrect in 57%. Pathologically the tumours were situated in the dermis or subcutaneous tissue. None were cystic, but several had areas of calcification. None of the tumours recurred after excision, but two patients had multiple lesions at different locations and times.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pilomatrixomas in children are simple to treat successfully but have variable clinical presentation. Early diagnosis is important so that unnecessary, aggressive surgery can be avoided.
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Magee
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Whiteman
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D018296:Pilomatrixoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*