Head and neck pilomatrixoma in children.

OBJECTIVE To provide a review of the current information on the etiology, clinical presentation, management, and outcome of pilomatrixoma of the head and neck in children. DESIGN Retrospective review. SETTING A tertiary care pediatric center. PATIENTS Fifty-one pediatric patients with a diagnosis of pilomatrixoma of the head and neck. INTERVENTION All patients underwent excision of pilomatrixoma from January 1997 to March 1999. A total of 55 tumors were studied. RESULTS A preponderance of girls (n = 36; 71%) presented with this condition. The average age at diagnosis was 5.7 years, and the average size of the lesion was 1 cm. The skin of the cheek and the periorbital area were the most commonly involved sites. Only 27 lesions (49%) had a correct preoperative diagnosis. Two (4%) of 55 tumors recurred after complete surgical excision. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The age and sex of the patient, preoperative diagnosis, time elapsed before diagnosis, site and size of the tumor, length of follow-up, presence of multiple or previous pilomatrixomas, and recurrence. CONCLUSIONS Preoperative diagnosis may be improved with increased awareness of pilomatrixoma, a common, benign skin tumor in children. Clinical findings will aid in an accurate diagnosis. Recurrence after complete local excision is rare.