Six cases of perforating pilomatricoma: Anetodermic changes with expression of matrix metalloproteinases

Perforating pilomatricoma (PP) is a rare clinical variant of pilomatricoma presenting as a crusted or ulcerated nodule. Previous reports have suggested that the tumor cells perforate the epidermis through a process of transepithelial elimination. Here, we report six cases of PP and examine the mechanism of transepithelial elimination in PP. Histologically, the dermis above or around the tumor nest exhibited edema, dilated vascular spaces, sparse collagen bundles and absence of elastic fibers, suggesting anetodermic changes in all cases. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated many CD68-positive macrophages around the tumor nests. Matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)-9 and MMP-12 were expressed in the inflammatory cells and tumor cells, and were also present in the epidermis and fibroblasts in all cases. We speculate that in PP anetodermic change caused by MMP and elastases including MMP-9 and MMP-12 may precede elimination of the tumor.