Novel Presentation of Fibroepithelioma of Pinkus on the Ear of a Patient Treated on a Panamanian Humanitarian Mission

Abstract

Fibroepithelioma of Pinkus (FEP) is traditionally classified as an unusual variant of basal cell carcinoma. It has non-specific clinical findings yet distinct histologic features. The diagnosis can be challenging for clinicians because it often mimics benign entities such as intradermal nevi. FEP typically occurs on the trunk, but many body sites can be involved including the head, neck, and genitalia. According to a PubMed search of articles indexed in MEDLINE using "Fibroepithelioma of Pinkus" and "ear" or "auricle," there are no reports of FEP specifically occurring on the ear. We describe the first case of FEP on the ear of a heavily sun-damaged male treated while on a military humanitarian mission to Panama. This case helps support the classification of FEP as a basal cell carcinoma variant and raises awareness for this entity as it may be encountered both on military humanitarian missions and in military clinics.