Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 3, 2026
Intracranial Orthotopic Allografting of Medulloblastoma Cells in Immunocompromised Mice
Published on: October 3, 2010
Pilomatrixoma of the head and neck in children
R P Agarwal1, S D Handler, M R Matthews
1Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology and Department of Pathology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Insights
Pilomatrixomas are common pediatric head and neck tumors. Surgical excision is curative for these benign skin neoplasms, which often present as superficial masses in children.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Oncology
Background:
- Pilomatrixomas are benign neoplasms originating from hair follicles.
- They represent a frequent cause of superficial head and neck masses in pediatric patients.
- Limited studies focus on the specific clinical characteristics of pediatric head and neck pilomatrixomas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the clinical characteristics of pediatric head and neck pilomatrixomas.
- To evaluate the management of these neoplasms in children.
- To analyze data from a large tertiary care pediatric hospital.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients.
- Inclusion of histologically confirmed pilomatrixomas of the head and neck.
- Data collection over a 6-year period (1992-1997).
Main Results:
- 91 cases in 86 patients were analyzed (age range: 5 months to 17 years).
- Most common sites: cheek (36%), neck (20%), periorbital region (14%), scalp (9%).
- Surgical excision proved curative in all identified cases.
Conclusions:
- Pilomatrixoma is a common cutaneous neoplasm and a frequent cause of superficial head and neck masses in children.
- Despite potential diagnostic challenges, pilomatrixoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pediatric head and neck masses.
- Surgical excision is a highly effective and curative treatment modality.
Objective:
Pilomatrixomas are benign skin neoplasms of hair follicle origin. They are one of the most common superficial masses of the head and neck excised in children. Although the entity has been well studied in the literature, few studies have been undertaken to evaluate the clinical characteristics of head and neck pilomatrixomas specifically in children. The purpose of this study was to review the clinical characteristics and management of children presenting with pilomatrixomas of the head and neck at a large tertiary care pediatric hospital.
Study Design:
A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients with histologically confirmed pilomatrixoma of the head and neck excised during a 6-year period (1992-1997) at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Results:
Ninety-one cases of pilomatrixoma were confirmed in 86 patients. The age range was 5 months to 17 years. The median age at time of excision was 6.0 years. The most common sites of occurrence were the cheek (36%), neck (20%), periorbital region (14%), and scalp (9%). The male to female ratio was 1:1.5. Multiple lesions were found in 8.2% of patients. Surgical excision was curative in all cases.
Conclusion:
Pilomatrixoma is a cutaneous neoplasm that is one of most common causes of superficial head and neck masses in children. Although the presurgical diagnosis may be difficult in some cases, pilomatrixoma must be kept in the differential of superficial head and neck masses in children. Surgical excision is almost always curative.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Skin Cancer
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...
01:19Cranial and Spinal Meninges
Cranial Meninges
These meningeal layers cover the cranium. The dura mater is the outermost layer of cranial meninges. It is a thick and durable membrane of dense...