Pilomatrixoma as a diagnostic pitfall in fine needle aspiration cytology:acase report.
BACKGROUND: Pilomatrixoma (pilomatrixoma, calcifying epithelioma of Malherbe)is a relatively uncommon, benign neoplasm arising from the skin adnexa. The tumor can causediagnostic difficulty not only for the clinician but also for the cytologist. CASE: A 62-year-oldwoman presented with a right submandibular swelling of 4 months’ duration. The clinical findingswere highly suspicious for malignancy. A fine needle aspiration biopsy was performed. Threepreliminary differential diagnoses were offered: mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the submandibularsalivary gland, squamous cell carcinomatous deposit in a submandibular lymph node and calcifyingodontogenic tumor. Computed tomography demonstrated no bony lesion. No primary site of squamous cellcarcinoma could be identified. An excisional biopsy of the swelling was performed, and thehistologic diagnosis of pilomatrixoma was made. CONCLUSION: The cytologic presentation ofpilomatrixoma of the right submandibular region can masquerade as that of a malignant tumor, in thiscase mucoepidermoid carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma or odontogenic tumor. This case delineatesthe cytomorphologic features of pilomatrixoma that may mimic carcinoma.
Sivakumar,S
Department of Pathology, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, UniversitiSains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Pinang 13200, Malaysia. sivahisto68@yahoo.co.in
Pilomatrixoma　 Fine needle biopsy, NOS　 Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Swelling
