POSTTRANSPLANT EPIDERMOID CYSTS SECONDARY TO SMALL GRAFT HAIR TRANSPLANTATION

BACKGROUND. Epidermoid cysts sometimes result from small-graft hair tr ansplantation. Although hail transplant surgeons are aware of this com plication, it has not been reported to date. OBJECTIVE. Our purpose is to report the clinical and histological features of posttransplant ep idermoid cysts. METHODS. Four patients with posttransplant cysts, and the histological features of two of these cysts, were reviewed. RESULT S. All cysts occurred at the site of a recent micro- or minigraft, and were small; one had become infected. Serial sectioning of one scalp b iopsy showed a micrograft lying in the subcutaneous tissue in close pr oximity to an epidermoid cyst. The cyst apparently arose from the foll icular infundibulum of the graft. CONCLUSION. Posttransplant epidermoi d cysts are examples of epidermal inclusion cysts. They are treated by conservative excision, and may require drainage for secondary infecti on. Careful operative technique should prevent some of these cysts.