Trichoblastoma

Trichoblastoma

Trichoblastoma is a rare, benign skin tumor that originates from the hair follicles. It is considered a type of follicular neoplasm and is often found on the scalp and face.

Presentation

Trichoblastomas typically present as solitary, slow-growing nodules. They are usually skin-colored or slightly pigmented and can vary in size. These tumors are most commonly diagnosed in adults, although they can occur at any age.

Histopathology

Under the microscope, trichoblastomas are characterized by nests of basaloid cells that resemble the germinal matrix of the hair follicle. The tumor cells are often arranged in a trabecular or ribbon-like pattern. The stroma surrounding the tumor nests is typically fibrous and may contain mucin.

Micrograph of a trichoblastoma showing characteristic basaloid cell nests.

Differential Diagnosis

Trichoblastoma must be differentiated from other basaloid tumors such as basal cell carcinoma and trichoepithelioma. Unlike basal cell carcinoma, trichoblastomas do not exhibit peripheral palisading or stromal retraction.

Treatment

The primary treatment for trichoblastoma is surgical excision. Complete removal is usually curative, and recurrence is rare. Due to their benign nature, trichoblastomas do not metastasize.

Related Conditions

Trichoblastomas are part of a spectrum of follicular tumors that include trichoepithelioma and pilomatricoma. These tumors share a common origin from the hair follicle but differ in their clinical and histological features.

Related Pages

• Basal cell carcinoma
• Trichoepithelioma
• Pilomatricoma

References

• ,

 Trichoblastoma: a distinctive neoplasm derived from the hair follicle, 
 Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, 
 1992,
 Vol. 19(Issue: 5),
 pp. 329-334,
 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0560.1992.tb01312.x,

• ,

 Lever's Histopathology of the Skin, 
 10th edition, 
 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 
 2009, 
  
  
 ISBN 978-0781773634,

A clinical image of a trichoblastoma on the skin.

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  Trichoblastoma

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  Micrographs of trichoblastoma