Solitary Nodule With White Hairs

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Solitary Nodule With White Hairs

The Diagnosis: Trichofolliculoma

Microscopic examination revealed a dilated cystic follicle that communicated with the skin surface (Figure). The follicle was lined with squamous epithelium and surrounded by numerous secondary follicles, many of which contained a hair shaft. A diagnosis of trichofolliculoma was made.

Microscopic examination revealed a dilated cystic follicle that communicated with the skin surface (H&E, original magnification ×40).

Clinically, the differential diagnosis of a flesh-colored papule on the scalp with prominent follicle includes dilated pore of Winer, epidermoid cyst, pilar sheath acanthoma, and trichoepithelioma.1,2 Multiple hair shafts present in a single follicle may be seen in pili multigemini, tufted folliculitis, trichostasis spinulosa, and trichofolliculoma. On histopathologic examination, a dilated central follicle surrounded with smaller secondary follicles was identified, consistent with trichofolliculoma.

Trichofolliculoma is a rare follicular hamartoma typically occurring on the face, scalp, or trunk as a solitary papule or nodule due to the proliferation of abnormal hair follicle stem cells.3,4 It may present as a flesh-colored nodule with a central pore that may drain sebum or contain white vellus hairs. Trichofolliculoma is considered a benign entity, despite one case report of malignant transformation.5 Biopsy is diagnostic and no further treatment is needed. Recurrence rarely occurs at the primary site after surgical excision, which may be performed for cosmetic purposes or to alleviate functional impairment.

References
  1. Ghosh SK, Bandyopadhyay D, Barma KD. Perifollicular nodule on the face of a young man. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2011;77:531-533.  
  2. Gokalp H, Gurer MA, Alan S. Trichofolliculoma: a rare variant of hair follicle hamartoma. Dermatol Online J. 2013;19:19264.
  3. Choi CM, Lew BL, Sim WY. Multiple trichofolliculomas on unusual sites: a case report and review of the literature. Int J Dermatol. 2013;52:87-89.  
  4. Misago N, Kimura T, Toda S, et al. A revaluation of trichofolliculoma: the histopathological and immunohistochemical features. Am J Dermatopathol. 2010;32:35-43.
  5. Stem JB, Stout DA. Trichofolliculoma showing perineural invasion. trichofolliculocarcinoma? Arch Dermatol. 1979;115:1003-1004.
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Dr. Wetzel was from the University of Vermont, Burlington, and currently is from the Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Kentucky. Drs. Gagnon and McDermott were from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville. Dr. Gagnon currently is from Dermatology PLC, Charlottesville and Orange, Virginia. Dr. McDermott currently is from the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Services, David Grant Medical Center, Fairfield, California.

The authors report no conflict of interest.

The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Department of the Air Force or the Department of Defense.

Correspondence: Megan Wetzel, MD, MPH, 3810 Springhurst Blvd, Louisville, KY 40241 (m0wetz01@louisville.edu). 

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Dr. Wetzel was from the University of Vermont, Burlington, and currently is from the Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Kentucky. Drs. Gagnon and McDermott were from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville. Dr. Gagnon currently is from Dermatology PLC, Charlottesville and Orange, Virginia. Dr. McDermott currently is from the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Services, David Grant Medical Center, Fairfield, California.

The authors report no conflict of interest.

The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Department of the Air Force or the Department of Defense.

Correspondence: Megan Wetzel, MD, MPH, 3810 Springhurst Blvd, Louisville, KY 40241 (m0wetz01@louisville.edu). 

Author and Disclosure Information

Dr. Wetzel was from the University of Vermont, Burlington, and currently is from the Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Kentucky. Drs. Gagnon and McDermott were from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville. Dr. Gagnon currently is from Dermatology PLC, Charlottesville and Orange, Virginia. Dr. McDermott currently is from the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Services, David Grant Medical Center, Fairfield, California.

The authors report no conflict of interest.

The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Department of the Air Force or the Department of Defense.

Correspondence: Megan Wetzel, MD, MPH, 3810 Springhurst Blvd, Louisville, KY 40241 (m0wetz01@louisville.edu). 

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The Diagnosis: Trichofolliculoma

Microscopic examination revealed a dilated cystic follicle that communicated with the skin surface (Figure). The follicle was lined with squamous epithelium and surrounded by numerous secondary follicles, many of which contained a hair shaft. A diagnosis of trichofolliculoma was made.

Microscopic examination revealed a dilated cystic follicle that communicated with the skin surface (H&E, original magnification ×40).

Clinically, the differential diagnosis of a flesh-colored papule on the scalp with prominent follicle includes dilated pore of Winer, epidermoid cyst, pilar sheath acanthoma, and trichoepithelioma.1,2 Multiple hair shafts present in a single follicle may be seen in pili multigemini, tufted folliculitis, trichostasis spinulosa, and trichofolliculoma. On histopathologic examination, a dilated central follicle surrounded with smaller secondary follicles was identified, consistent with trichofolliculoma.

Trichofolliculoma is a rare follicular hamartoma typically occurring on the face, scalp, or trunk as a solitary papule or nodule due to the proliferation of abnormal hair follicle stem cells.3,4 It may present as a flesh-colored nodule with a central pore that may drain sebum or contain white vellus hairs. Trichofolliculoma is considered a benign entity, despite one case report of malignant transformation.5 Biopsy is diagnostic and no further treatment is needed. Recurrence rarely occurs at the primary site after surgical excision, which may be performed for cosmetic purposes or to alleviate functional impairment.

The Diagnosis: Trichofolliculoma

Microscopic examination revealed a dilated cystic follicle that communicated with the skin surface (Figure). The follicle was lined with squamous epithelium and surrounded by numerous secondary follicles, many of which contained a hair shaft. A diagnosis of trichofolliculoma was made.

Microscopic examination revealed a dilated cystic follicle that communicated with the skin surface (H&E, original magnification ×40).

Clinically, the differential diagnosis of a flesh-colored papule on the scalp with prominent follicle includes dilated pore of Winer, epidermoid cyst, pilar sheath acanthoma, and trichoepithelioma.1,2 Multiple hair shafts present in a single follicle may be seen in pili multigemini, tufted folliculitis, trichostasis spinulosa, and trichofolliculoma. On histopathologic examination, a dilated central follicle surrounded with smaller secondary follicles was identified, consistent with trichofolliculoma.

Trichofolliculoma is a rare follicular hamartoma typically occurring on the face, scalp, or trunk as a solitary papule or nodule due to the proliferation of abnormal hair follicle stem cells.3,4 It may present as a flesh-colored nodule with a central pore that may drain sebum or contain white vellus hairs. Trichofolliculoma is considered a benign entity, despite one case report of malignant transformation.5 Biopsy is diagnostic and no further treatment is needed. Recurrence rarely occurs at the primary site after surgical excision, which may be performed for cosmetic purposes or to alleviate functional impairment.

References
  1. Ghosh SK, Bandyopadhyay D, Barma KD. Perifollicular nodule on the face of a young man. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2011;77:531-533.  
  2. Gokalp H, Gurer MA, Alan S. Trichofolliculoma: a rare variant of hair follicle hamartoma. Dermatol Online J. 2013;19:19264.
  3. Choi CM, Lew BL, Sim WY. Multiple trichofolliculomas on unusual sites: a case report and review of the literature. Int J Dermatol. 2013;52:87-89.  
  4. Misago N, Kimura T, Toda S, et al. A revaluation of trichofolliculoma: the histopathological and immunohistochemical features. Am J Dermatopathol. 2010;32:35-43.
  5. Stem JB, Stout DA. Trichofolliculoma showing perineural invasion. trichofolliculocarcinoma? Arch Dermatol. 1979;115:1003-1004.
References
  1. Ghosh SK, Bandyopadhyay D, Barma KD. Perifollicular nodule on the face of a young man. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2011;77:531-533.  
  2. Gokalp H, Gurer MA, Alan S. Trichofolliculoma: a rare variant of hair follicle hamartoma. Dermatol Online J. 2013;19:19264.
  3. Choi CM, Lew BL, Sim WY. Multiple trichofolliculomas on unusual sites: a case report and review of the literature. Int J Dermatol. 2013;52:87-89.  
  4. Misago N, Kimura T, Toda S, et al. A revaluation of trichofolliculoma: the histopathological and immunohistochemical features. Am J Dermatopathol. 2010;32:35-43.
  5. Stem JB, Stout DA. Trichofolliculoma showing perineural invasion. trichofolliculocarcinoma? Arch Dermatol. 1979;115:1003-1004.
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A 72-year-old man presented with a new asymptomatic 0.7-cm flesh-colored papule with a central tuft of white hairs on the posterior scalp. The remainder of the physical examination was unremarkable. Biopsy for histopathologic examination was performed to confirm diagnosis.

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