title: Pilomatrix carcinoma of the thoracic spine: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pilomatrixoma is a common head and neck neoplasm in children. Its malignant counterpart, pilomatrix carcinoma, is rare and found more often in men.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report of a 21-year-old man with pilomatrixoma of the thoracic spine that underwent malignant degeneration to pilomatrix carcinoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The appearance of a painless mobile axillary mass was followed by severe back pain 1 year later. Imaging revealed a compression fracture at the T5 level. The patient underwent resection of the axillary mass and spinal reconstruction of the fracture; the pathology was consistent with synchronous benign pilomatrixomas. Three months later he presented with a recurrence of the spinal lesion and underwent further surgical resection; the pathology was consistent with pilomatrix carcinoma. He received adjuvant radiotherapy and at his 1-year follow-up examination had no sign of recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pilomatrix carcinoma involving the spine is a rare occurrence. It has a high incidence of local recurrence, and wide excision may be necessary to reduce this risk. Radiotherapy may be a helpful adjuvant therapy. Clinicians should be aware of this entity because of its potential for distant metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yadia
authors.forename: Ciro G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Randazzo
authors.forename: Sajjad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gressen
authors.forename: Moshe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chasky
authors.forename: Lawrence C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Kenyon
authors.forename: John K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Ratliff
mesh_terms: D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D006201:Hair Diseases; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D018296:Pilomatrixoma / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult