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April 2003
By Stephen Schleicher, MD, and Lawrence
Schiffman, DO
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CASE:
A 69-year-old woman presents to the office for removal of
a growth near her left ear. She states that it has been present
for many years and has remained completely asymptomatic. Examination
reveals a soft, pink, telangiectatic subcutaneous nodule at
the superior portion of the left preauricular zone, measuring
3.5 cm by 2.0 cm. The nodule is not friable and there is no
apparent drainage.
WHAT IS YOUR DIAGNOSIS?
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Eccrine cylindroma is a pinkish-blue, rubberlike nodule occurring
most often on the scalp and face. Solitary lesions such as this
patient's are nonhereditary. Hereditary forms consist of multiple
groups of tumors on the scalp. When the nodules are widespread
and confluent, the condition is referred to as "turban tumor."
Women are more prone to eccrine cylindroma than men, with onset
occurring shortly after puberty. Malignant transformation is
quite rare. Full excision is the treatment of choice. |
Dr. Schleicher is director of the DermDx Centers
for Dermatology of Northeastern Pennsylvania and a clinical instructor
of dermatology at Graduate Hospital's City Line Campus in Philadelphia,
Kings College in Wilkes-Barre, and Arcadia University in Glenside,
Pennsylvania. He is also a member of the EMERGENCY MEDICINE editorial
board. Dr. Schiffman is a fellow at the DermDx Centers for Dermatology.
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