Trichoblastoma of the Breast Detected by Screening Mammography: A Diagnostic Pitfall

The document reported on two cases where trichoblastoma, a benign hair follicle tumor, was detected in the breast via mammography, initially causing diagnostic confusion with malignancies like basal cell carcinoma and invasive ductal adenocarcinoma. Needle core biopsies suggested malignancy, but further dermatopathologic review and immunohistochemistry confirmed trichoblastoma. The study emphasized the importance of considering cutaneous tumors in mammographically detected lesions and highlighted the role of expert dermatologic review to avoid misdiagnosis. Key diagnostic features included papillary mesenchymal bodies and reactive Merkel cells, which helped distinguish trichoblastoma from malignancies.