title: Giant pilomatricoma mimicking a malignant parotid mass.
abstract: Pilomatricomas are benign neoplasms of the hair follicle occurring relatively often in the pediatric population. However, lesions attaining massive proportions are very rarely encountered. We describe such a case presenting in the parotid region and initially misdiagnosed as malignancy. Preoperative biopsy provided accurate diagnosis and allowed definitive surgical excision using a parotid-sparing approach. In children, giant pilomatricoma should be included into the differential diagnosis of noninflammatory masses of the salivary gland region.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Surgery Unit, Sapienza University, Azienda Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, RM 00161, Italy. da.cozzi@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Denis A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Cozzi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: d'Ambrosio
authors.forename: Egidia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cirigliano
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Negro
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Iacusso
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Totonelli
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uccini
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D006201:Hair Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018296:Pilomatrixoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*