Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine

Original Article

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Pilomatrixoma.: Seung Sam Paik, Dong Hoon Kim, How Jin Lee, Se Jin Jang, Moon Hyang Park, Jung Dal Lee; Korean J Cytopathol. 1997;8(2):155-159.

Abstract PDF: Pilomatrixoma is a benign skin appendage tumor of hair matrix cell origin. The cytological appearance of this tumor may cause problems when attempting to establish a differential diagnosis with other neoplasms. Herein we report the aspiration cytology findings of two cases of pilomatrixoma. One case was diagnosed as atypical cell clusters initially and the other was diagnosed as pilomatrixoma. On cytologic examination, both cases showed clusters of tightly arranged basaloid cells with an uniform appearance, scanty cytoplasm and round hyperchromatic nuclei. There were histiocytes and multinucleated foreign body giant cells merged with the amorphous opaque orangeophilic materials of "ghost cells". The differential diagnosis with other neoplasms is discussed.

Case Report

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of a Pilomatrixoma Misdiagnosed as Carcinoma: A Case Report.: Ji Han Jung, Young Shin Kim, Kyo Young Lee, Chang Suk Kang, Sang In Shim; Korean J Cytopathol. 1999;10(1):91-96.

Abstract PDF: Sometimes a pilomatrixoma on upper neck can be misdiagnosed as primary salivary gland tumor, skin adnexal tumor or metastatic carcinoma. On fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC), characteristic features are ghost cells, basaloid cells, and calcium deposits, among which presence of ghost cells seems to be the key to recognize it. Here we present a cytologically misdiagnosed case of pilomatrixoma. A 32-year-old man presented a subcutaneous mass on the right posterior neck. It has grown slowly for 1 year, and was nontender, well circumscribed, hard, and movable mass. An initial FNAC yielded only monomorphic population of highly mitotic basaloid cells, without anucleated ghost cells, chronic inflammatory cells or foreign-body giant cells, suggestive of a poorly differentiated carcinoma. However, that was inconsistent with patient's clinical findings. For further correct diagnosis, FNAC was repeated, which yielded the basaloid cells and foreign-body giant cells. The diagnosis of pilomatrixoma could be made and the mass was excised. This case demonstrates that the pilomatrixoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of subcutaneous aspirates containing not ghost cells but a dominant population of basaloid cells.

Original Article

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Pilomatrixoma: A Report of Five Cases.: Ho Sung Park, Myoung Ja Chung, Myoung Jae Kang, Dong Geun Lee; Korean J Cytopathol. 2000;11(1):53-58.

Abstract PDF: Pilomatrixoma is a benign tumor which usually occur as a solitary, firm nodule in the head and neck, and upper extremities of young people. This tumor is occasionally encountered during aspiration biopsy of subcutaneous masses, but only a small number of cases are correctly diagnosed prior to excision. We report five cases of pilomatrixoma. Four cases occurred in the neck and one case in the back. The characteristic fine needle aspiration cytologic features are shadow cells and basaloid cells in the background of inflammatory cells, including some multinucleated giant cells. The shadow cells were recognized in all five cases. These cells were pale, anucleated cells with relatively distinct cell borders. May-Gr nbald-Giemsa stain is useful for the identification of shadow cells. The recognition of shadow cells appears to be essential for accurate diagnosis of pilomatrixoma.

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