Calcifying epithelioma (pilomatrixoma) of the head and neck: analysis of 37 cases.
OBJECTIVE
To review all cases of pilomatrixoma (calcifying epithelioma) of the head and neck published in Japanese dental journals 1977-1994.


METHODS
Retrospective review.


METHODS
University hospital, Japan.


METHODS
37 Patients with 38 tumours, mean age 23 years, female: male ratio 2.4:1.


METHODS
Enucleation alone (n=29, 78%), excision including covering skin (n=7, 19%), or excision including superficial lobe of parotid (n=1, 3%).


METHODS
Presentation, site, recurrence, and histological features.


RESULTS
Two patients had multiple tumours (5%). Most of the tumours were firm nodules covered with normal skin varying in size from 5 to 30 mm. The most common site was the preauricular region; 22 (58%) were in the anterior part. The follow up period ranged from 7 to 43 months during which there was only one recurrence. Tumours were encapsulated and solid composed of either shadow and basophilic cells or shadow cells alone, and the stroma contained varying amounts of calcification, ossification, and keratinization.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnosis should be suspected when the mass is adherent to the skin but not fixed to the underlying tissue. It is difficult to distinguish between benign and malignant tumours by imaging methods alone, so the recommended treatment must be complete excision including adherent skin.
Yoshimura
Y
Y
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Shimane Medical University, Japan.
Obara
S
S
Mikami
T
T
Matsuda
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018296:Pilomatrixoma / Q000473:pathology*