A calcifying epithelioma of Malherbe: a clinical case

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Calcifying Malherbe epithelioma is one of the most common tumors in children. It is localized mainly on the scalp and neck. The tumor is an asymptomatic, single, spherical, slow-growing subcutaneous formation of dense consistency, up to 3 cm in diameter. Experienced surgeons sometimes remove this neoplasm without prior diagnosis. Based on the presented case of calcifying Malherbe epithelioma in a 7-year-old girl, we want to determine through a retrospective analysis of her medical documents whether only a physical examination will allow a differential diagnosis and a correct diagnosis.

CLINICAL CASE DESCRIPTION: The girl’s parents saw some lesion on the distal part of her right shoulder. On examination, a physician revealed a subcutaneous tumor up to 2 cm in size, bluish in color, limited in mobility by palpation and painless. At surgery, the tumour was widely excised. Histopathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of a calcifying epithelioma of Malherbe.

CONCLUSION: Calcifying epithelioma of Malherbe is a rare tumor. It occurs most often in girls. It is often clinically misdiagnosed. Surgical treatment involves wide excision. For families who are particularly concerned about the safety of their children during surgery, additional diagnostic procedures may be helpful.

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About the authors

Pavel A. Isaev

National Medical Research Radiological Center

Author for correspondence.
Email: isaev@mrrc.obninsk.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-9831-4814
SPIN-code: 2181-4935

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine)

Россия, Obninsk

Viatcheslav V. Polkin

National Medical Research Radiological Center

Email: polkin83@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0857-321X
SPIN-code: 5604-2012

MD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine)

Россия, Obninsk

Alexey A. Ilyin

National Medical Research Radiological Center

Email: ilin.grand@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6581-633X
SPIN-code: 2493-6490

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine)

Россия, Obninsk

Liana N. Vatina

National Medical Research Radiological Center

Email: vatina1995@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0009-0005-5043-7301

Clinical Resident

Россия, Obninsk

Anastasia S. Yakusheva

National Medical Research Radiological Center

Email: Nastmed10@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4369-0246
Россия, Obninsk

Mariya I. Rizhenkova

National Medical Research Radiological Center

Email: m.r.1984@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4840-7163
Россия, Obninsk

Sergei A. Ivanov

National Medical Research Radiological Center; Peoples' Friendship University of Russia

Email: mrrc@mrrc.obninsk.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-7689-6032

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor, Corresponding Member of the RAS

Россия, Obninsk; Moscow

Andrey D. Kaprin

National Medical Research Radiological Center; Peoples' Friendship University of Russia

Email: kaprin@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8784-8415
SPIN-code: 1759-8101

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Россия, Obninsk; Moscow

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Supplementary files

Supplementary Files
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2. Fig. 1. Externally the formation resembles an intradermal hematoma.

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3. Fig. 2. An echographic image of calcifying Malherbe epithelioma.

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4. Fig. 3. Cytological picture of the formation of soft tissues of the ulnar region in THIAB. Azur-eosin coloring, magnification 20×.

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5. Fig. 4. Cytological picture of the formation of soft tissues of the ulnar region in THIAB. Azur-eosin coloring, magnification 40×.

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6. Fig. 5. The formation is not visualized on the X-ray in the lateral projection.

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7. Fig. 6. On the X-ray in the direct projection, the formation is closely adjacent to the skin of the medial surface of the shoulder.

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