Pilomatricoma of the Maxillofacial Area in the Northern Regional Jordanian Population: Report of 31 Cases

Abstract

To analyze the clinicopathologic features of pilomatricoma affecting the maxillofacial area in Jordanians. Records of the Department of Pathology at Jordan University of Science and Technology were reviewed for patients with biopsied pilomatricoma of the maxillofacial region received during the 11-year period extending between 1991 and 2001. These were retrieved, reviewed, and analyzed for age, gender, location, clinical features, and treatment. There were 31 cases with an age range from 4 to 48 years (mean, 16.7). The majority (74%) of patients were in their first (45%) and second (29%) decades of life with a male to female ratio of 1 to 1.4. The periorbital (36%), the periauricular (28%), and the upper cervical region (23%) were the affected areas. The majority of cases presented as a painless skin nodule with a duration varying from 2 months to 3 years. The majority (97%) of tumors were between 0.5 cm and 2 cm in diameter. Histologically, almost 50% of tumors showed shadow cells alone. All tumors were removed surgically. The clinicopathologic characteristics of pilomatricoma of the maxillofacial area in Jordanians are similar generally to those in other countries. Maxillofacial surgeons need to be more aware of this lesion and should consider it in the differential diagnosis of dermal masses they encounter.