Atheroma

ATHEROMA (from Greek athera- porridge), a retention cyst of a sebaceous gland (Virchow), formed as a result of blockage of the excretory duct of a sebaceous gland with subsequent stretching of the duct wall due to accumulation of glandular contents. According to Frank, atheroma is a true tumor developing from particles of epidermis detached during intrauterine life. A. is a round or oval tumor from the size of a pea to a fist, either sharply protruding above the surface of the skin or immersed in the surrounding subcutaneous tissue, of soft-elastic, less often - dense consistency. A. has a connective tissue capsule lined with epidermis; the contents of the cyst is a white porridge-like mass consisting of horn cells, detritus, cholesterol crystals, and fat. Its growth is slow, gradual; an atheroma exists for years, and is often multiple. It undergoes secondary changes - suppuration, calcification, transformation into cancer or sarcoma. A characteristic sign distinguishing it from dermoid and lipoma is the point-like adhesion of the atheroma to the skin at the site of blockage of the sebaceous gland, due to which the skin cannot be gathered into a fold above the atheroma. Treatment is surgical - complete removal of the entire cyst under local anesthesia. Leaving even a small piece of the atheroma sac leads to recurrence.