Demographic and clinicopathological features and long-term results of pediatric cases diagnosed with pilomatrixoma

Abstract

Objectives: In this study, we present our experience with pilomatrixoma in pediatric patients. Patients and methods: Between January 2013 and January 2023, a total of 86 children (29 males, 57 females; mean age: 10.8±4.2 years; range, 1 to 18 years) who were diagnosed with pilomatrixoma based on histopathological examination of excisional biopsies were included. Demographic characteristics of the patients, symptoms, location of lesions, radiological imaging results and pathology reports were obtained from the medical records. Results: The number of patients under the age of 10 diagnosed with pilomatrixoma was 29 (33.7%), while there were 57 (66.2%) patients between 10 and 18 years of age. Eighty-three (88.3%) of our cases were in the form of a single nodule, and three (11.6%) were in the form of multiple nodules. In terms of tumor localization, 38 (42.6%) were located in the head and neck region, 29 (32.5%) in the upper extremities, 14 (15.7%) in the trunk and eight (8.9%) in the lower extremities. One patient (1.1%) was reoperated due to recurrence during postoperative follow-up. Conclusion: Pilomatrixoma should be surgically excised, as it can be confused with other subcutaneous tumors usually seen in children and adolescents. Its ability to show malignant transformation over time should not be overlooked.