Radiation Therapy for Trichoepithelioma: Case Report

Background: Trichoepithelioma is a rare skin tumor that arises from hair follicles. The most common locations are in the scalp, forehead, nose and upper lip and can cause significant cosmetic and functional impairment. In this study, we report a case of multiple trichoepitheliomas treated by radiation therapy which demonstrated a dramatic response with a significant cosmetic improvement. Case: A 57-year-old woman suffered from multiple coalesced lesions of trichoepitheliomas in her bilateral eyebrows for three years. She had received numerous treatments including topical steroid and unknown drugs use, oral antibiotics, cryotherapy, dermabrasion and laser surgery which all had failed. She then received radiation therapy with 50Gy in 20 fractions by 6-MeV electron beams. She is free of tumor in the irradiated area 18 months after treatment with significant cosmetic improvement. Conclusion: Radiation therapy should be an alternative for patients with trichoepitheliomas who have failed other forms of treatment and those with multiple coalesced lesions that cause significant cosmetic or functional impairment.