Pilomatrixoma of the parotid region: A benign tumor mimicking metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Nikita Grieder, MD; Marcella Pucci, MD; Claudio De Vito, MD, PhD; Yan Monnier, MD, PhD; Nicolas Dulguerov, MD; Maxime Mermod, MD, PhD

Radiology Case Reports (Apr 2025)

Pilomatrixoma of the parotid region: A benign tumor mimicking metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Nikita Grieder, MD,
Marcella Pucci, MD,
Claudio De Vito, MD, PhD,
Yan Monnier, MD, PhD,
Nicolas Dulguerov, MD,
Maxime Mermod, MD, PhD

Affiliations

Nikita Grieder, MD: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Corresponding authors.
Marcella Pucci, MD: Department of Radiology, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Claudio De Vito, MD, PhD: Department of Clinical Pathology, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Yan Monnier, MD, PhD: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Nicolas Dulguerov, MD: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Maxime Mermod, MD, PhD: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Corresponding authors.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 20, no. 4
pp. 2159 – 2162

Abstract

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Head and neck tumors in adults present a broad differential diagnosis, particularly when considering malignant neoplasms that require prompt diagnosis and intervention. We report the case of a 66-year-old woman with a progressively enlarging mass in the left parotid region. Initial assessments, including fine needle aspiration biopsy and imaging studies from outside institutions, suggested a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma. However, final histopathological analysis revealed that the mass was consistent with a pilomatrixoma. This case highlights the critical importance of meticulous radiological interpretation and the role of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNA) in accurately distinguishing between these 2 entities before initiating treatment.

Published in Radiology Case Reports

ISSN: 1930-0433 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General): Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/radiology-case-reports

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