Case reportPreauricular pilomatricoma: An uncommon entity in a dental pediatric patient

- Pilomatricomas are common lesions although rarely encountered in dental practice. Dental professionals especially oral surgeons and pediatric dentists should be aware of the condition during their practice.
- Common differential diagnosis of preauricular pilomatricoma does not involve temporomandibular joint disease. This condition should be added to differential diagnosis.
- Meticulous examinations should be made and misdiagnosis with temporomandibular joint disease should be eliminated.

IntroductionPilomatricomas are benign follicular skin appendage tumors, commonly occurring in children and young adults. Most patients admit to dermatologists to seek treatment and are well known by them; however, dental professionals, especially pediatric dentists are not familiar with these tumors.Presentation of caseThis report presents a 16-year-old female with preauricular pilomatricoma, located beneath the overlying skin of the temporomandibular region. Clinical examination revealed an asymptomatic lump, the overlying skin revealed no abnormalities. Patient was unaware of the lesion.DiscussionPilomatricomas are commonly encountered in the maxillofacial region, although not considered in differential diagnosis by dental professionals. They usually present as, asymptomatic, subcutaneous masses; although symptomatic cases have been reported. In literature, common differential diagnosis for head and neck pilomatricoma includes sebaceous cyst, ossifying hematoma, giant cell tumor, chondroma, dermoid cyst, foreign body reaction, degenerating fibroxanthoma, metastatic bone formation, and osteoma cutis. We are of the opinion that temporomandibular joint disease should also be considered in differential diagnosis for preauricular pilomatricoma.ConclusionPediatric dentists should be aware of the condition and consider it in the differential diagnosis of pediatric conditions involving the temporomandibular joint.