Track: Clinical Studies

Abstract:

Clinicians frequently encounter skin lesions or subcutaneous nodules that are presumed to be cysts based on their clinical appearance. True cysts are common and present in a wide variety of ages and anatomic locations, making them a plausible differential diagnostic consideration for many clinically encountered lesions. However, not all lesions that appear cystic are true cysts, and a variety of neoplastic and non-neoplastic entities can masquerade as cysts. Our aim is to increase pathologists’ and clinicians’ awareness of such “cyst mimickers”, which can include both benign and malignant entities. We present a series of six cases clinically diagnosed as cysts from a variety of anatomic locations in patients with a broad age range that, upon microscopic examination, were found to be non-cystic processes. Underlying etiologies included infectious (molluscum contagiosum), reactive (intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia [Masson’s tumor]), benign neoplastic (ceruminous adenoma, schwannoma, myopericytoma/myofibroma), and malignant (melanoma). By showcasing a spectrum of entities that can masquerade clinically as cysts, this report reinforces the significance of histopathological evaluation of such lesions and enhances clinicopathologic correlation. Clinicians should maintain a broad differential for cyst-like lesions, and pathologists should be aware that lesions submitted as cysts can in fact be due to a variety of etiologies, occasionally including malignancy.

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Guillaume Cachot