title: Pilomatricoma of the head and neck: a retrospective review of 179 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the clinical presentations and management of pilomatricoma, formerly known as pilomatrixoma, of the head and neck.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care center.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 179 patients with a diagnosis of pilomatricoma of the head and neck.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients underwent surgical excision for pilomatricoma of the head and neck between 1991 and 2002.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pilomatricoma occurred at any age (mean age, 29.8 years); 45.3% of the cases occurred in patients younger than 18 years. The female-male ratio was 0.97:1. The average size of the lesion was 1 cm. The most common sites of occurrence were the neck (30.2%), cheeks (16.8%), scalp (16.2%), and brow and periorbital area (14.0%). Multiple occurrence was found in 1 case. Two of 179 tumors recurred after surgical excision.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because preoperative diagnosis of pilomatricoma is usually incorrect, careful clinical examination and a high index of suspicion would result in a more accurate diagnosis. Complete surgical excision is the treatment of choice. Otolaryngologists should consider pilomatricoma in the differential diagnosis of neck masses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, 201 Shih-Pai Road, Sector 2, Taipei 112, Taiwan. mylan@vghtpe.gov.tw
authors.forename: Ming-Ying
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Ming-Chin
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Ching-Yin
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Wing-Yin
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ching-Zong
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006201:Hair Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D018579:Patient Selection; D018296:Pilomatrixoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome