Benign Skin and Soft Tissue Tumors

Abstract

Skin and skin-associated soft tissue tumors in pediatric population can arise de novo, and in general they can be categorized according to their cell type of origin, or they can have their origin due to errors along the pathways of embryological development. Pediatric tumors are highly varied in origin, pathophysiology, and clinical presentation, and sometimes it is difficult to distinguish benign and malignant tumors in children. Benign skin tumors can be divided in tumors of epidermal origin, epidermal nevus; tumors of dermal origin; tumors of hair folicules, pilomatrixoma; sebaceal gland tumors, nevus sebaceous; and cysts—epidermal and dermal. Benign soft tissue tumors can be divided on the base of the tissue included: benign tumors of fibrous, fat, muscle, neural, and synovial origin. Skin tumors and defects can occur during embryogenesis. These anomalies in head and neck region may have communication with central nervous system, and at the cervical region congenital anomalies are mostly presented as thyroglossal duct cyst branchial anomalies (sinus, cyst, or fistula). Infective lesions (lymphadenopathies) are common in pediatric population.