title: Is histological examination necessary when excising a pilonidal cyst?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pilonidal disease is a common inflammatory condition mostly affecting young males. Malignant degeneration of a pilonidal cyst is rare, with incidence estimated at 0.1%. The most common type is squamous cell carcinoma and the treatment of choice remains en block resection of the lesion.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present the case of a patient with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma arising in a pilonidal cyst, due to misdiagnosis of the disease during his first treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Detailed histological examination of all excised pilonidal cyst lesions is essential and any histological suspicion should prompt a wider excision.
authors: 4th Department of General Surgery, General Hospital "G. Papanikolaou", Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Styliani N
authors: SN
authors: Parpoudi
authors: 4th Department of General Surgery, General Hospital "G. Papanikolaou", Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Dimitrios S
authors: DS
authors: Kyziridis
authors: 4th Department of General Surgery, General Hospital "G. Papanikolaou", Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Dimitrios Ch
authors: DCh
authors: Patridas
authors: 4th Department of General Surgery, General Hospital "G. Papanikolaou", Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Apostolos N
authors: AN
authors: Makrantonakis
authors: 4th Department of General Surgery, General Hospital "G. Papanikolaou", Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Pavlos
authors: P
authors: Iosifidis
authors: 4th Department of General Surgery, General Hospital "G. Papanikolaou", Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Ioannis G
authors: IG
authors: Mantzoros
authors: 4th Department of General Surgery, General Hospital "G. Papanikolaou", Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Konstantinos C
authors: KC
authors: Tsalis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010864:Pilonidal Sinus / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012445:Sacrococcygeal Region; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy