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Pilomatricomas in a patient with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome: diagnostic and therapeutic clues
Laura Battaglia1, Corrado Ini'2, Manuela Lo Bianco3
1Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies 'G.F. Ingrassia'-Radiology I Unit, University Hospital Policlinico 'G. Rodolico-San Marco,' Catania, Italy.
Insights
Pilomatricomas are rare skin tumors. This case highlights their association with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome, emphasizing the role of ultrasound in diagnosis and the potential for multiple tumors in syndromic patients.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Oncology
- Genetics
Background:
- Pilomatricoma is a rare benign neoplasm of hair cortex cells, typically presenting as a slow-growing superficial mass in children.
- Multiple pilomatricomas can indicate underlying genetic mutations and syndromic disorders, including Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome.
- Ultrasound is crucial for characterizing pilomatricomas, assessing deeper structures, and planning surgical resection.
Abstract:
Pilomatricoma is a rare benign neoplasm originating from hair cortex cells and typically manifests in children as a slow-growing bluish-red, superficial and firm mass. Multiple pilomatricomas can be associated with genetic mutations and syndromic disorders, most commonly with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome, Gardner syndrome, myotonic dystrophy, Turner syndrome, and Sotos syndrome. Ultrasound examination allows this tumor to be characterized, to assess the involvement of deeper structures and to plan treatment. Pilomatricoma shows some distinctive ultrasonographic features that aid in its diagnosis and it may be seen on ultrasound as an ovoid complex mass. Complications and malignant transformation of pilomatricomas have been described as a possible tumor evolution, and surgical resection is recommended. We present a rare case of a 17-year-old female patient with intellectual disability and microcephaly, and with the evidence of multiple pilomatricomas in the head-neck region on ultrasound examination. The syndromic features of the patient and genetic tests led to a diagnosis of Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome. We also focused on the association between pilomatricomas and genetic mutations in patients with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome.
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