Skin-Colored Papules on the Chest
About This Condition
Steatocystoma lesions are benign and thought to arise from a mutation in keratin 17. The mutation can be inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, but sporadic nonheritable cases are more common.5 There are no distinct associations with gender or ethnicity. The dermal cysts arise from the sebaceous ducts of the pilosebaceous unit, and histopathology typically shows numerous mature sebaceous cells encased by a thin wall of stratified squamous epithelium.2 Immunohistochemical staining for the defective keratin can help diagnose biopsy specimens, and histopathology confirmed the diagnosis in this case.
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Treatment
Steatocystoma is usually asymptomatic, so patients mainly present to physicians for cosmetic reasons. Puncturing the cyst wall within the dermis produces translucent sebum-containing fluid, and ruptured cysts can incite inflammation, pain, and scarring.2 However, prognosis is good, and treatment consists of excision, aspiration and curettage of the cyst wall, oral isotretinoin, or laser therapy. Our patient elected to forego treatment and will consider definitive removal in the future, since the lesions will persist and potentially enlarge. Accurate diagnosis of this rare cause of chest papules improves the timeliness and efficacy of appropriate treatment, favoring good cosmesis.
