A case of desmoplastic trichoepithelioma

Abstract

Desmoplastic trichoepithelioma is a rare, benign, adnexal tumor of hair follicle origin and is most commonly found on the face of young females. Clinically it presents as a solitary, asymptomatic, firm and annular plaque with a raised border. The histopathological findings show narrow strands of basaloid tumor cells with variable nests in a trabecular pattern and horn cysts in the desmoplastic stroma. This closely resembles morphea type basal cell carcinoma and microcystic adnexal carcinoma. We herein report a case of desmoplastic trichoepithelioma on the cheek of a 22-year-old man, with discussion of the significance of the immunohistochemical stains in the differential diagnosis of similar skin tumors, using antibodies for CD10, CD34, CEA, CK14, CK7 and Bcl-2.