Management of multiple trichoepithelioma: A review of pharmacological therapies

Abstract

Trichoepithelioma is a rare benign adnexal neoplasm that can occur in various forms including solitary, multiple, familial or nonfamilial. Multiple facial trichoepithelioma can be associated with significant psychosocial burden. Conventional treatment modalities such as surgical excision and ablative laser have variable results and can be associated with unacceptable complications and tumour regrowth. Pharmacological interventions such as topical and systemic agents are potentially effective but clinical data are limited and treatments are poorly standardised. We review the available evidence to determine the role of pharmacological therapies in the management of multiple trichoepithelioma. Demographic and clinical data were retrospectively collected from the available English literature. Majority of cases treated with pharmacological therapies (93.75%) had a positive treatment outcome, achieving partial lesion response. Adverse effects associated with pharmacological therapies were generally well tolerated and did not interrupt treatment. There are limitations as to how our results can be interpreted owing to the paucity of good quality evidence, spectrum of disease severity, and diversity of study designs utilised in the included articles. Nonetheless, the results of our study indicate that while most pharmacological interventions for multiple trichoepithelioma produce a partial response, they can be employed as effective suppressive therapies, either alone or in conjunction with conventional treatments. The current evidence for pharmacological therapies remains largely anecdotal justifying the need for further clinical studies in this area.

Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 2 Overexpression in Multiple Familial Trichoepithelioma

“…Some topical agents such as 5% imiquimod or 1% sirolimus cream seem to decrease the size of the lesions, but they usually do not disappear completely. 6 Therefore, we present the only reported case of MFT with an amplification of the FGFR2 gene, subsidiary of targeted treatment with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of FGFR1-4, for example, erdafitinib.…”

Differential diagnosis of Brooke–Spiegler syndrome in a young woman with multiple trichoepitheliomas

“…Поиск этиотропного и патогенетического лечения СБШ в настоящий момент продолжается [31]. V. Baur и соавт.…”

Multiple familial trichoepithelioma: report of a disfiguring case

“…These genes favor the proliferation and differentiation of the germ cells of the pilosebaceous units, enabling the development of trichoepitheliomas. 1 , 2 …”

“…MFT affects more women due to its lower expressiveness and genetic penetrance in males. 1 , 2 There is no racial predilection 3 and a family history is generally positive. 1 , 2 It manifests in childhood or adolescence, with the appearance of papulonodular, normochromic, or erythematous, shiny lesions, which mainly affect symmetrically the central region of the face.…”

“…1 , 2 There is no racial predilection 3 and a family history is generally positive. 1 , 2 It manifests in childhood or adolescence, with the appearance of papulonodular, normochromic, or erythematous, shiny lesions, which mainly affect symmetrically the central region of the face. 1 , 2 They can also affect the scalp, cervical region, and upper chest.…”