Giant solitary trichoepithelioma: a case report

Giant solitary trichoepithelioma (GST) is a rare adnexal skin tumor with hair structure differentiation. It varies from trichoepithelioma in size (>2cm) and location (common in thigh and perianal region). So far only 18 cases of GST have been reported worldwide. This is a case of GST in the thigh of a 42 year old man. This form of trichoepithelioma can be a cellular tumor which needs to be differentiated from trichoblastoma, keratotic basal cell carcinoma, nevoid basal cell carcinoma and microcystic adnexal carcinoma. 1Department of Pathology, 2Department of Dermatology KIST Medical College, Imadol, Lalipur, Nepal, 3Department of Pathology, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Lalitpur, Nepal Corresponding author


INTRODUCTION
Among many tumors arising from the skin, skin adnexal tumor comprises a significant number of cases. Benign skin adnexal tumors are more prevalent than the malignant ones. Most of the adnexal tumors are predominantly dermal and many of them may show minimal epidermal connection. These are divided into basaloid, clear or eosinophilic and tumors with glandular differentiation. Trichoepithelioma is of the dermal adnexal tumor with hair structures differentiation. It can be small solitary, multiple or rarely giant solitary form.
Though small solitary is quite common, giant solitary trichoepithelioma (GST) is a very rare form of trichoepithelioma with size ranging several centimeters. Common site of its occurrence are thigh and perianal region. 1,2 Here we present a case of GST in the thigh of a 42 year old man.

Case report
A 42 year old man presented with a slow growing nodular swelling, in his left thigh, since 2 years. The patient underwent excision biopsy. The biopsy specimen was sent to histopathology department of KIST medical college. On gross examination the mass was skin covered tissue that measured 5 x 3.5 x 2 cm. Cut section revealed grayish white nodular surface. The specimen was processed and the sections were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) stain. Multiple HE stained sections were examined. On the sections, the tissue was partially lined by keratinizing stratified squamous epithelium. The epidermis was insignificant (Fig. 1). Underlying dermis had nodule comprising of several basophilic islands of cells with lace-like and solid patterns. Peripheral palisading was noted in those islands (Fig. 2). The basophilic islands were surrounded by fibroblasts and no retraction clefts were noted. Occasional mitosis, horn cysts with abrupt keratinization (trichilemmal maturation) and several squamous eddies were seen. No cytological atypia, necrosis, brisk atypical mitosis or infiltration was noted (Fig. 2). Correlating the clinical and microscopic features, diagnosis of GST was made.

Discussion
Trichoepithelioma (TE) is a tumor located in the dermis. In literature, it was first described by Brooke in 1892 as "Epithelioma Adenoides Cysticum". 3 He hypothesized and demonstrated that it arises from the epidermis and epithelium of hair sacs. Later, Lever postulated that the origin of trichoepithelipma was germ cell or pluripotent embryonic stem cells or primary epithelial germ cells. 4 TE is benign cutaneous appendageal tumor and arises from hair follicles with some exocrine differentiation. 5 There are three types of TE, a small solitary form, a small multiple form (autosomal dominant) and a giant solitary form. 6 A small TE is the most common subtype and usually presents as a solitary nodule. It is seen in childhood or in young adulthood. The most common sites are face with a predilection for the nose, upper lip, and cheeks. Most of the small solitary lesions appear as a skin coloured papule and reaches up to 0.5cm in dimension. 4 Multiple TE can be seen in Brooke-Fordyce syndrome, transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait. 7,8 They have less expressivity and penetrance in the male. In Brooke-Fordyce syndrome simultaneous presence of TE and cylindroma has been reported in several studies so far. 9-11 TE can also occur sporadically. Multiple TE present as small papules with a strong predilection for the central part of the face. Nevertheless, the trunk, neck and scalp may also be involved. The papules may coalesce to form plaques. Rarely, linear and dermatomal distribution may be seen. 12 GST is a rare form of solitary TE measuring more than 2 cm in diameter. Mean age of presentation of GST is 60 years with increased prevalence in older age group. There is also an equal male to female predilection. 13 The commonest sites for GST to occur are thigh and perianal region. 1 So far 18 cases of GST have been reported; out of which thigh was the site in 3/18 cases and nose was the commonest location of the lesion (4/18). 14 Other sites were natal cleft, buttock, scrotum, abdomen, shoulder, scalp, perianal, forearm, groin and mammary gland. 14 The size ranged from 2 to 17 cm and age ranged from 3 to 71 years. 14 Most of the cases were treated with excision and showed rare recurrence.
On microscopy, GST is a dermal lesion with no connection to the epidermis. The epidermis is unremarkable. Several horn cysts are present in the lesion which is critical for diagnosis. The horn cysts show abrupt keratinization (trichilemmal keratinization) unlike that seen in squamous cell carcinoma. The basophilic tumor cells are arranged in lace-like adenoid network or sometimes in solid nests and have peripheral palisading. Papillary-mesenchymal bodies are noted in the trichoepithelioma. This is one of the important features in differentiating TE from the other differential diagnosis. Features of high grade atypia with mitosis is not noted. 4 Secondary features such as foreign body giant cells, calcification and/or amyloid might also be seen. 4   15 Microcystic adnexal carcinoma, one of the differential diagnosis of GST, is an invasive dermal tumor with cords and nests of keratinocytes having ductal differentiation. 4 In conclusion, GST is a rare dermal adnexal tumor with hair structures differentiation. The common sites for it being thigh and perianal region. Several adnexal tumors including both benign, as well as malignant adnexal tumor, have to be kept in mind when making a diagnosis of GST.