Trichilemmal keratosis. A clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of two cases

Trichilemmal keratosis (TK) is an uncommon epidermal tumor that exhibits a keratinizing surface with the formation of a cutaneous horn and that clinically resembles a hyperkeratotic actinic keratosis. Histologically, there is verrucous hyperplasia of the epidermis with orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis. TK is characterized by abrupt keratinization without formation of a granular cell layer, in the same manner as that in which the outer root sheath keratinizes (trichilemmal keratinization). The epidermis is acanthotic and contains pale-staining keratinocytes. Epithelial lobules and small trichilemmal cysts are connected to the thickened epidermis. We describe the clinical, histologic, and immunohistochemical findings of two cases of TK.