A trichilemmal cyst is a skin adnexal tumor that usually occurs on the scalps of elderly women. We report a trichilemmal cyst in the submandibular area of a 16-year-old male, masquerading as a second branchial cleft cyst. During surgery, the mass was found to have invaded the submandibular gland and needed to be excised totally in continuity with the submandibular gland. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a trichilemmal cyst involving the submandibular gland. Although rare, a trichilemmal cyst may be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic lesions in the submandibular area. It should also be differentiated from other cystic malignant tumors for its tendency to invade the surrounding structure.
Adolescent ; Aged ; Branchioma ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Scalp ; Skin ; Submandibular Gland*