Volume 10, Issue 7 e6146
CASE IMAGE
Open Access

An epidermal cyst in the areola

Toshiyuki Yamaguchi

Corresponding Author

Toshiyuki Yamaguchi

Department of Surgery, Asama Nanroku Komoro Medical Center, Nagano, Japan

Correspondence

Toshiyuki Yamaguchi, Department of Surgery, Asama Nanroku Komoro Medical Center, 3-3-21, Aioicho, Komoro-shi, Nagano 384-8588, Japan.

Email: [email protected]

Search for more papers by this author
First published: 25 July 2022

Abstract

Although epidermal cysts are common lesions of the scalp, face neck, and trunk, these cysts are rarely found in the areola. Doctors should think of epidermal cyst as one of differential diagnoses of an areolar lesions.

A 28-year-old woman presented to the outpatient breast clinic with a lump in the areola of her right breast. The lesion was first noticed 2 months earlier and had gradually increased in size. On examination, the tumor was approximately 1 cm in diameter, well-defined, and dome-shaped, while the overlying skin was glossy and whitish (Figure 1A). Ultrasound showed a well-circumscribed hypoechoic solid mass (Figure 1B). The tumor was excised under local anesthesia. Histological examination demonstrated that the resected lesion was a cyst lined by mature stratified squamous epithelium and filled with laminated layers of keratin. These findings were consistent with a diagnosis of epidermal cyst (Figure 1C). Although epidermal cysts are usually situated in the scalp, neck, and trunk, while they are rarely found in the nipple-areolar complex.1 Doctors should think of epidermal cyst as one of differential diagnoses of an areolar lesion. Given complications in the future and patient’s physical and psychological discomfort, surgical removal is the most appropriate management option.2

Details are in the caption following the image
(A) Right breast of a 28-year-old woman, showing a well-defined lesion in the nipple-areolar complex measuring approximately 1 cm in diameter, while the overlying skin is glossy and whitish. (B) Ultrasound shows a well-circumscribed hypoechoic solid mass. (C) Histological examination demonstrated that the resected lesion was a cyst lined by mature stratified squamous epithelium and filled with laminated layers of keratin, findings consistent with an epidermal cyst.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTION

The author has been responsible for data collection, analysis, and presentation.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The author would like to thank the patient for giving consent.

    CONFLICT OF INTEREST

    Nothing to declare.

    ETHICAL APPROVAL

    This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animal subjects.

    CONSENT

    Written informed consent was obtained from the patient to publish this report in accordance with the Journal's patient consent policy.

    DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

    All data relevant to the study are included in the article.

      The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.