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. 2019 Jun 4;8:779. [Version 1] doi: 10.12688/f1000research.19157.1

Case Report: A rapidly growing cyst on the scalp

Emma Short 1,a, Aisling O'Shea 1, Krishna Mukkanna 2, Girish Patel 2, Stefan Docjinov 1, Kenneth May 1
PMCID: PMC7739100  PMID: 33363712

Abstract

Trichilemmal carcinoma is a rare tumour derived from the outer root sheath of hair follicles .  It can be difficult to distinguish both clinically and histologically from other skin lesions, particularly squamous cell carcinoma.  We present the case of a 62-year-old female with a 20-year history of three 1-cm cysts on her scalp.  Over a six-month period, a cyst overlying the occiput had become painful and grown in size.  The general practitioner and subsequently local emergency department suspected infection.  The lesion was incised, and the patient was treated with oral antibiotics.  At the time of surgical excision, the lesion measured 3 x 4 cm.

Microscopic examination identified rounded dermal lobules of squamous epithelium with trichilemmal keratinization, in keeping with a pre-existing pilar cyst.  There were areas with nuclear pleomorphism, mitoses and an infiltrative architecture.  A diagnosis of trichilemmal carcinoma arising in a pilar cyst was made.  Trichilemmal carcinomas are considered to be a low-grade tumour, but they have the potential to spread to lymph nodes and to metastasise to distant sites in the body, therefore adequate excision and appropriate follow-up are required.

Keywords: Trichilemmal carcinoma, pilar cyst

Introduction

Trichilemmal carcinoma is a rare tumour derived from the outer root sheath of hair follicles 1. It typically occurs in elderly patients on sun-exposed areas of the body 1. Such tumours may occur de novo, but more commonly they arise from trichilemmal cysts, which are benign lesions arising from the isthmus of hair follicles, or proliferating trichilemmal tumours 2. It is thought that trauma and inflammation can induce the transformation of a benign tumour into a malignant tumour 2. The tumour may have a prolonged benign period before cancer develops.

This case report is important as it illustrates that a diagnosis of trichilemmal carcinoma is often delayed due to it mimicking other skin lesions.

Case report

A 62-year-old Caucasian British female presented with a 20-year history of three 1-cm cysts on her scalp. She was previously fit and well and had no significant medical history. Over a seven-month period, the cyst overlying the occiput had become painful and grown in size. During this time, the patient had visited her general practitioner and local emergency department, both of which suspected infection. The lesion was incised, and the patient was treated with three courses of oral flucloxacillin (each course, 500 mg four times per day for 1 week) and one course of oral clarithromycin (250 mg twice per day for 1 week). At the time of surgical excision, the lesion measured 3 x 4 cm. It was raised, indurated, crusted, demonstrated a sparsity of hairs on the surface, had superficial ulceration and exuded serosanguinous fluid when pressed ( Figure 1). There was no palpable lymphadenopathy.

Figure 1. Clinical examined identified a 3 x 4 cm raised, indurated lesion with crusting, superficial ulceration and a serosanguinous discharge.

Figure 1.

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Microscopic examination of the lesion identified rounded dermal lobules of squamous epithelium with trichilemmal keratinisation in keeping with a pre-existing pilar cyst ( Figure 2A). Areas with nuclear pleomorphism, mitoses and an infiltrative architecture were noted, and they retained trichilemmal keratinisation ( Figure 2B–D). The features were of a trichilemmal carcinoma arising in a pilar cyst.

Figure 2. Microscopic images of the skin tumour.

Figure 2.

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( A) Squamous epithelium with trichilemmal keratinisation (x4 objective). ( B– D) Epithelium with nuclear pleomorphism, mitoses and an infiltrative architecture (x20 objective).

She was reviewed three months post-operatively. The wound had healed well and there was no sign of recurrence.

Discussion

Trichilemmal carcinomas can be difficult to distinguish clinically and histologically from other skin lesions, particularly squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Microscopically they are characterised by an abrupt transition of nucleated squamous epithelial cells to keratinised cells, without the formation of a granular layer 3, and a lobular proliferation of epithelial cells which exhibit nuclear pleomorphism, prominent mitotic activity and infiltration beyond the basement membrane 4.

Trichilemmal carcinomas are considered to be a low-grade tumour, but they do have the potential to spread to lymph nodes and to metastasise to distant sites in the body 5. There are also reports of death due to the disease 6. Therefore, prompt treatment is necessary to reduce morbidity and mortality. Surgical excision with a 1-cm border is the recommended treatment. However, in recent years, Mohs surgery has been used with success.

For recurrent disease, or cases with lymph node or distant metastases, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are sometimes considered, but often there is no standard protocol for trichilemmal carcinoma treatment, and regimens similar to those used for SCC are employed. Following treatment, patients will need to undergo regular follow-up due to the risk of recurrence and/or metastases. Because of the tumour’s rarity, standard treatment and follow up protocols have not been established.

Conclusion

Trichilemmal carcinoma is a rare adnexal tumour. It can mimic common skin lesion such as cysts or squamous cell carcinoma. Diagnosis is dependent on microscopic examination, and the identification of features including the absence of a granular cell layer, a lobular architecture, cellular pleomorphism, mitoses and invasion beyond the basement membrane. The tumour can behave aggressively. Adequate excision and appropriate follow-up are required.

Learning points

  • Trichilemmal carcinoma is a rare adnexal tumour.

  • It can mimic common skin lesion such as cysts or squamous cell carcinoma.

  • Diagnosis is dependent on microscopic examination, and the identification of features including the absence of a granular cell layer, a lobular architecture, cellular pleomorphism, mitoses and invasion beyond the basement membrane.

  • The tumour can behave aggressively. Adequate excision and appropriate follow-up are required.

Data availability

All data underlying the results are available as part of the article and no additional source data are required.

Consent

Written informed consent for publication of their clinical details and clinical images was obtained from the patient.

Funding Statement

The author(s) declared that no grants were involved in supporting this work.

[version 1; peer review: 2 approved

References

  • 1. Reis JP, Tellechea O, Cunha MF, et al. : Trichilemmal carcinoma: review of 8 cases. J Cutan Pathol. 1993;20(1):44–9. 10.1111/j.1600-0560.1993.tb01248.x [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
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  • 5. Lobo L, Amonkar AD, Dontamsetty VV: Malignant Proliferating Trichilemmal Tumour of the Scalp with Intra-Cranial Extension and Lung Metastasis-a Case Report. Indian J Surg. 2016;78(6):493–5. 10.1007/s12262-015-1427-0 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 6. Zhuang SM, Zhang GH, Chen WK, et al. : Survival study and clinicopathological evaluation of trichilemmal carcinoma. Mol Clin Oncol. 2013;1:499–502. 10.3892/mco.2013.74 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
F1000Res. 2020 Dec 15. doi: 10.5256/f1000research.20993.r76140

Reviewer response for version 1

Manas Dave 1

Introduction

Well written introduction acknowledging trichilemmoma and its malignant variation. 

Case report

Grammatical considerations - General Medical Practitioner should be used instead of General Practitioner

Well documented photos and descriptions; are higher resolution histology images available? 

Discussion

Well written - the authors may wish to add that this case report exemplifies the importance of a comprehensive microscopic examination for seemingly clinically benign pilar cysts and the importance of a thorough histological assessment. This can also be added into the learning points. 

Consent from the patient acknowledged

This is a well written case report by the authors presenting a uncommon malignancy.

Are enough details provided of any physical examination and diagnostic tests, treatment given and outcomes?

Yes

Is the case presented with sufficient detail to be useful for other practitioners?

Yes

Is sufficient discussion included of the importance of the findings and their relevance to future understanding of disease processes, diagnosis or treatment?

Yes

Is the background of the case’s history and progression described in sufficient detail?

Yes

Reviewer Expertise:

Histopathology

I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard.

F1000Res. 2020 Jun 29. doi: 10.5256/f1000research.20993.r64756

Reviewer response for version 1

Toshitsugu Nakamura 1

This article describes a rare case of trichilemmal carcinoma (TC).  It may be valuable, from educational aspect, for the practitioners who have not encountered such a rare tumor, with a condition that pathological diagnosis is accurate and strict. It seems to me, however, that Figure 2 does not show characteristic features for TC or pilar cyst (PC). Although the microphotographs in Figure 2 are somewhat out of focus and are not discernible enough, the tumor looks squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). I suggest the authors to present characteristic histopathological features for TC/PC, as follows:

Figure 2A:

  1. Low-power view showing cystic structure

  2. Distinct feature of trichilemmal keratinization.

Figures 2B/2C/2D:

  1.  Low-power view showing folliculo-centric structure of the tumor

  2. Distinct feature of trichilemmal keratinization (Absence of granular cell layer is not a warrant of trichilemmal keratinization, because conventional SCC usually shows keratinization from squamoid tumor cells without interposition of granular cell layer)

  3. The tumor cells with clear cytoplasm, stained by periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) procedure.

In case that the present tumor is difficult to distinguish from SCC, immunohistochemical markers for trichilemmal differentiation, such as CD34 and CK17, should be examined and presented.

Are enough details provided of any physical examination and diagnostic tests, treatment given and outcomes?

Yes

Is the case presented with sufficient detail to be useful for other practitioners?

No

Is sufficient discussion included of the importance of the findings and their relevance to future understanding of disease processes, diagnosis or treatment?

Partly

Is the background of the case’s history and progression described in sufficient detail?

Yes

Reviewer Expertise:

diagnostic pathology, immunohistochemistry, pathology of cell death and terminal differentiation

I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however I have significant reservations, as outlined above.

References

  • 1. WHO Classification of Skin Tumours. IARC Publications.2018;199-200
F1000Res. 2019 Jul 2. doi: 10.5256/f1000research.20993.r49455

Reviewer response for version 1

Laszlo Igali 1,2

This article highlights the difficulties in the clinical and histological diagnosis of a rare adnexal tumour. The number of properly described bona fide trichilemmal carcinomas is low, therefore case reports describing the observed histological features are  valuable. The authors also highlighted the long clinical history related to a pre-existing pilar cyst - transformation of the tumour can occur, sometimes in a long and unpredictable clinical course.

I would suggest one area, which could be expanded more is the differential diagnosis (perhaps use and differentiating value of immunohistochemistry) as well as it's relationship to the follicular/infundibular squamous cell carcinoma.

I would recommend indexing this article as it is - the short and succinct description and important clinical and histological points make this useful, and the point raised above is probably beyond the scope of a case report.

Are enough details provided of any physical examination and diagnostic tests, treatment given and outcomes?

Yes

Is the case presented with sufficient detail to be useful for other practitioners?

Yes

Is sufficient discussion included of the importance of the findings and their relevance to future understanding of disease processes, diagnosis or treatment?

Yes

Is the background of the case’s history and progression described in sufficient detail?

Yes

Reviewer Expertise:

Dermatopathology, melanocytic disorders and skin cancer

I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard.

Associated Data

    This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.

    Data Availability Statement

    All data underlying the results are available as part of the article and no additional source data are required.

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