PURPOSE: To report the experience with eyelid pilomatrixoma during 30 years in a university hospital. METHODS: A review of the Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory at the "Hospital Universitario Prof. Edgard Santos", was conducted to identify eyelid tumor cases from 1974 to 2004. After identification of pilomatrixoma cases, a chart review retrieved data regarding gender, age, duration of symptoms, gross aspect, anatomic localization and clinical diagnosis. The hematoxilin and eosin stained sections were reviewed. RESULTS: Of a total of 621 eyelid tumors, four (0.64%) were pilomatrixomas. Three patients were male. The mean age at diagnosis was 25 years (from 8 to 54). Mean duration of symptoms was 5 months (from 2 to 12). In three cases the lesion was located in the inferior lid. Only one patient had a correct clinical diagnosis. Two cases exhibited a pseudo-capsule on histology. The case with 12 months of history was composed mainly of shadow cells. Foreign body reaction was seen in all cases, calcification in only one. CONCLUSION: This is a very rare benign tumor of young patients. Due to its rarity and variable clinical presentation, clinical misdiagnosis is common.
Pilomatrixoma; Pilomatrixoma; Eyelid neoplasms; Diagnosis, differential
