2023 Volume 38 Issue 2 Pages 136-141
A 30－year－old woman with a history of chest pain and loss of appetite was referred to our hospital for evaluation of severe anemia and a large mass on the right upper back for 3 years prior to presentation. The patient was severely emaciated, with a body mass index (BMI) of 14.7 kg/m2, and blood test results showed a serum hemoglobin level of 2.7 g/dL. The tumor measured 20×10×7 cm and was partially exposed as a calcification with ulceration.
Based on biopsy and ultrasonography findings, we diagnosed the patient with a pilomatricoma. Blood transfusion improved the patient’s anemia ; however, we observed an increase in the size of the mass and bleeding from the ulcer. Therefore, we performed transcatheter arterial embolization before resection under general anesthesia, and the tumor was diagnosed as a pilomatricoma. Anemia improved 3 months postoperatively, and the BMI returned to the normal range after 4 months. No recurrence was observed at 8－month follow－up.[Skin Cancer (Japan) 2023 ; 38 : 136－141]
