Beyond the Matrix: A Rare Case of Pilomatrix Carcinoma with Histologic Insights
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21276/apalm.3745Keywords:
pilomatrixoma, pilomatrix carcinoma, matrical cells, skin adnexal tumorAbstract
Pilomatrix carcinoma is rare entity which arises from matrical cells of hair follicle and misdiagnosed quite often. A 27 years female with presented with a swelling on right side of nape of neck for approximately 3 years which was painless, slowly progressive, soft to firm in consistency. Previously misdiagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma, the lesion recurred and was excised again in our institution and was diagnosed here as Pilomatrix carcinoma with regional lymph node metastasis. Since she had metastasis, the patient is currently undergoing radiotherapy. Considering the rarity of this carcinoma it was noteworthy to report this case as correct diagnosis aids patient’s treatment protocol and improves prognosis.References
1. Park A, Wan L, Khachemoune A. Pilomatrix carcinoma unveiled: a systematic review of clinical characteristics, pathogenesis, diagnostic puzzles, and management strategies. Archives of Dermatological Research. 2025 Jan 18;317(1):278.
2. Jones C, Twoon M, Ho W, Portelli M, Robertson BF, Anderson W. Pilomatrix carcinoma: 12‐year experience and review of the literature. Journal of Cutaneous Pathology. 2018 Jan;45(1):33-8.
3. Rübben A, Wahl RU, Eggermann T, Dahl E, Ortiz-Brüchle N, Cacchi C. Mutation analysis of multiple pilomatricomas in a patient with myotonic dystrophy type 1 suggests a DM1-associated hypermutation phenotype. PLoS One. 2020 Mar 10;15(3):e0230003.
4. Lazar AJ, Calonje E, Grayson W, Dei Tos AP, Mihm Jr MC, Redston M et al. Pilomatrix carcinomas contain mutations in CTNNB1, the gene encoding β‐catenin. Journal of cutaneous pathology. 2005 Feb;32(2):148-57.
5. Yadia S, Randazzo CG, Malik S, Gressen E, Chasky M, Kenyon LC et al. Pilomatrix carcinoma of the thoracic spine: case report and review of the literature. The journal of spinal cord medicine. 2010 Jan 1;33(3):272-7.
6. Tselis N, Heyd R, Vogt HG, Zamboglou N. Pilomatrix carcinoma with lymph node and pulmonary metastases. Strahlenther Onkol. 2006 Dec;182(12):727-32.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Nidhi Priya Barla, Prima Shuchita Lakra, Rahul Kumar Bharti, Amiy Arnav, Sanjeet Kumar Singh, Monalisa Katyare

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access at http://opcit.eprints.org/oacitation-biblio.html).
