A growing nodule on the forearm of an 84-year-old man

Pilomatrix Carcinoma: Report of Two Cases of the Head and Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

Pilomatrix carcinoma (PC) is a rare skin tumor arising from hair follicle matrix cells. It is locally aggressive with a high rate of local recurrence after surgical excision. Few cases in the literature have been described and the management is not well defined.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to present two cases of PC located on the head and review the relevant literature about epidemiology, clinical and dermoscopic evaluation, characteristics of local and distant metastases, local recurrence rate and management of this rare skin tumor.

METHODS

We consulted databases from PubMed, Research Gate and Google Scholar, from January 2012 to November 2022. We reviewed the literature and reported two additional cases.

RESULTS

We selected 52 tumors in middle-aged to older patients located mostly on the head. Dermoscopy evaluation was rarely performed in the pre-operative diagnostic setting. The most definitive treatment was wide local excision, but local recurrences were common. In total, we observed 11 cases of recurrences and 9 patients with locoregional or distant metastases. Four patients received adjuvant radiotherapy, two patients needed chemotherapy and local cancer therapy and one patient received radiochemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Our reports and the review of the literature can provide a better awareness and management of this rare tumor.

Giant Pilomatrix Carcinoma of the Face

This case report describes an unusually large facial pilomatrix carcinoma (PC) in a 60-year-old man. This PC had been growing slowly for 11 months and had recently ulcerated. It measured 9 cm × 7 cm × 5 cm. Initial punch biopsy findings were inconclusive. The tumor was excised in total with 5-mm margins in a supra-superficial musculoaponeurotic system plane. The defect was reconstructed with a cervicofacial bilobed rotational advancement flap. Histopathologic findings confirmed the diagnosis of PC. There was no lymph node spread or distant metastasis. The patient recovered with a good esthetic result. This case represents one of the largest facial PCs reported in the literature. Diagnostic challenges are discussed, and the literature is reviewed.