Korean J Cytopathol.  2000 Jun;11(1):53-58.

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Pilomatrixoma: A Report of Five Cases

• Park HS
• Chung MJ
• Kang MJ
• Lee DG

Abstract

Pilomatrixoma is a benign tumor which usually occur as a solitary, firm nodule in the head and neck, and upper extremities of young people. This tumor is occasionally encountered during aspiration biopsy of subcutaneous masses, but only a small number of cases are correctly diagnosed prior to excision. We report five cases of pilomatrixoma. Four cases occurred in the neck and one case in the back. The characteristic fine needle aspiration cytologic features are shadow cells and basaloid cells in the background of inflammatory cells, including some multinucleated giant cells. The shadow cells were recognized in all five cases. These cells were pale, anucleated cells with relatively distinct cell borders. May-Gr nbald-Giemsa stain is useful for the identification of shadow cells. The recognition of shadow cells appears to be essential for accurate diagnosis of pilomatrixoma.

Keyword

Pilomatrixoma; Basaloid cells; Shadow cells; Fine needle aspiration cytology

MeSH Terms

Biopsy, Fine-Needle*
Biopsy, Needle
Diagnosis
Giant Cells
Head
Neck
Pilomatrixoma*
Upper Extremity