HISTOLOGY OF CHRONIC PILONIDAL-SINUS

Many theories concerning the development of chronic pilonidal sinus ha ve been proposed. A histologic study of primary pilonidal sinus in 53 patients is presented. Subcutaneous tissue contained sinuses surrounde d by chronic inflammation. Hair in sinuses was found in three quarters of the specimens examined. Examination showed that hair entered via o ne of the sinus openings created. Pits (defined as darker spots of var ying width in the midline of the internatal cleft) were found to be in dentations of the skin containing keratin plugs and debris. They may b e isolated or connected with hair follicles. Pilonidal sinuses are chr onic inflammatory processes of the skin caused by keratin plugs and de bris clinically observed as pits, having penetrated the dermis.