Plaque variant of trichoblastic fibroma.

Background. Tricoblastic fibroma is a rare benign skin tumor originating in the hair follicle. There are two clinical presentations: nodular and plaqu e variants. The plaque variant is almost exclusively located on the face wi th deep tissue infiltration. Case report. A 38-year-old man presented with a 2 cm diameter cutaneous pla que located on the right cheek. It had first been noted by the patient 3 ye ars earlier and had enlarged slowly. On examination, the plaque was well de fined. yellowish and slightly indurated. The first clinical diagnosis was b asal cell carcinoma and the plaque was removed. Histology provided the diag nosis of trichoblastic fibroma. The patient remains well, with no evidence of recurrence, to months after excision. Discussion. Trichoblastoma is an inclusive term for all benign cutaneous ne oplasms that are mostly composed of follicular germinative cells. According to Altman, the plaque variant of trichoblastic fibroma is a poorly circums cribed neoplasm, particularly at its lateral and deep margins. This author also stares that mitotic figures are more numerous in the plaque variant of trichoblastic fibroma and considers this clinical variant as a low-grade f ollicular malignancy.