Articles
Vol. 47 No. 2 (2025)
https://doi.org/10.4081/pmc.2025.359

What is the clinical utility of histological diagnosis between pilomatricoma and trichilemmal cyst in children?

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Published: 19 November 2025
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Pilomatricoma, trichilemmal cyst, children

Authors

Carmine Noviello
carmine.noviello@unicampania.it
Pediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Woman, Child, General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy.
Mercedes Romano
Pediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Woman, Child, General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy.
Ilaria Cascone
Pediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Woman, Child, General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy.
Gaia De Francesco
Pediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Woman, Child, General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy.
Mirko Bertozzi
Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Letizia Trotta
Pediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Woman, Child, General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy.
Alfonso Papparella
Pediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Woman, Child, General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy.

Pilomatricoma and trichilemmal cyst are two benign tumors of hair follicles that can affect children. We performed a retrospective study to histologically differentiate the two tumors to determine if this has clinical utility. For 5 years, we conducted a retrospective study on the patients who underwent surgery and evaluated some parameters (site, recurrence and scar outcome) categorizing them based on their histological type. We treated 71 patients, with an average age of 7.6 years. Most of the lesions were localized on the scalp, head and neck. Histological examination diagnosed 55 pilomatricomas and 16 trichilemmal cysts. Five patients with pilomatricoma developed an unaesthetic scar (4 in subscapular region), while the recurrence was present in 10 cases, of which 6 were trichilemmal cysts (37,5% of 16 cases). Both types of lesions healed successfully, however trichilemmal cysts are more susceptible to recurrence.

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How to Cite



What is the clinical utility of histological diagnosis between pilomatricoma and trichilemmal cyst in children?. (2025). La Pediatria Medica E Chirurgica, 47(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/pmc.2025.359
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