The Value of Ultrasound for Differentiating Trichilemmal Cysts From Epidermoid Cysts

The study evaluated the effectiveness of ultrasound (US) in distinguishing trichilemmal cysts (TCs) from epidermoid cysts (ECs). A total of 164 cysts in a pilot cohort and 69 in a validation cohort were analyzed. The results indicated that TCs were more common in females and in hairy areas compared to ECs. Ultrasound features such as internal hyperechogenicity and cystic change were more prevalent in TCs. A prediction model was developed based on these features, showing high accuracy with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of 0.936 and 0.864 for the pilot and validation cohorts, respectively. The study concluded that US was promising for differentiating TCs from ECs, aiding in their clinical management.