Trichilemmoma of the perioral area – Case report

Abstract

The trichilemmoma is a benign cutaneous epithelial tumor that results from a hamartomatous proliferation of cells from the hair follicle. The multiplication of glycogen-rich clear cells causes a papular or nodular lesion of the skin. Trichilemmomas may be solitary or multiple (associated with Cowden’s syndrome). The desmoplastic trichilemmoma is a histologic variant that resembles invasive carcinomas such as trichilemmal carcinoma, basal-cell carcinoma or squamous-cell carcinoma. A 68-year-old male presented with an asymptomatic ulcerated papule in his perioral area, after being referred to an oral surgeon by his dental hygienist. The lesion was excised and the histopathologic examination led to the diagnosis of conventional trichilemmoma. At the 1-year follow-up, the patient was free from recurrence.