Retrospective study of pilomatricoma: 261 tumors in 239 patients

Pilomatricoma is the second most common skin tumor in childhood and youth and it has a broad differential diagnosis. The main objective of the present study was to determine the incidence of pilomatricomas in our hospital and to analyze the following variables: patient age and sex, tumor site, symptoms, previous trauma, clinical diagnosis, associated diseases, number of cases of multiple tumors, ultrasound findings, anesthetic and surgical techniques, and postoperative complications.

This was a retrospective study of the pilomatricomas surgically excised between January 2004 and December 2012 and registered in the database of the pathology department of our hospital.

We found 261 pilomatricomas in 239 patients (120 female and 119 male) between 1 and 83 years of age (mean age, 26.4 years). The most common presentation was as a firm subcutaneous nodule, which was asymptomatic in 82% of cases. Tumors most commonly affected the head and neck (49.81%). Preoperative diagnosis was correct in 54.4% of cases, concomitant diseases were present in 59 cases, and 7 patients reported a history of trauma in the area of the tumor. There were 17 cases of multiple tumors, 1 case in a patient with familial disease and 2 in patients with Steinert disease. Soft-tissue ultrasound was performed on 57 lesions; images were compatible with pilomatricoma in 48 cases. Tumor excision was performed under local anesthesia in 185 cases and under local and general anesthesia in 76. The postoperative complications were hypertrophic scarring and wound dehiscence (1 case each).

This was a retrospective study with the largest series recorded in Spain and with one of the highest incidences. In addition, we report on variables not described in other studies.