Abstract

 

Proliferating trichilemmal tumor (or cyst) is an uncommon skin lesion arising from the hair follicle. It usuallay occurs as a solitary nodule on the scalp of older women. Although these lesions are generally benign, a few cases of malignant proliferating trichilemmal tumors, local recurrences and metastasis have been reported. We present a 57 year old patient who had multiple proliferative trichilemmal cysts with overlying skin ulceration on her scalp. Excisional biopsy of the masses was performed and the histopathological findings showed that it was a malignant proliferating trichilemmal tumor. Because of the surgical margin of the specimen was not free of tumor, re-excision was performed and remaining defect was repaired with skin graft.

Key Words: Proliferating trichilemmal cyst, Malignant trichilemmal tumor, Squamous cell carcinoma, Hair follicle