Post-traumatic pilomatricoma presenting as rapidly enlarging pediatric scalp mass

Taylor M Wallworth1, Christopher Husson2, Dustin Roberie2

  • 1School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Radiology Case Reports
|February 1, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Pilomatricomas (PM), common pediatric skin tumors, can present unusually. This case highlights rapid growth and trauma history, mimicking other conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Pediatric Pathology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Pilomatricomas (PM) are benign neoplasms originating from hair follicle matrix cells.
  • They represent a frequent cause of excised pediatric skin masses, typically presenting as slow-growing, painless, firm, superficial lesions on the head and neck.

Observation:

  • A preschool-aged girl presented with a rapidly enlarging scalp mass after minor blunt trauma.
  • The lesion, initially small, grew to the size of a ping pong ball over two months.
  • This rapid progression and trauma history broadened the differential diagnosis.

Findings:

  • Extensive workup, including sonography, CT, MRI, and biopsy, was performed.
  • The final pathological diagnosis confirmed the lesion as pilomatricoma.
  • The case displayed atypical features of rapid enlargement and a preceding trauma history.

Implications:

  • Atypical pilomatricomas can mimic various pediatric scalp pathologies.
  • Radiologists utilizing sonography may be the first to suspect pilomatricoma in unusual presentations.
  • Understanding typical imaging findings is crucial for diagnosing rare pilomatricoma cases.