Introduction:
The recognition of hidradenoma as a distinct entity was first reported in 1941 by Mayer. The malignant form of hidradenoma is extremely rare, with less than 50 cases ever reported in the literature. All these cases were characterized by a significant rate of locoregional recurrence. Some patients developed distant metastatic spread as well.[1] A variety of names are applied to dominantly dermal-based malignant eccrine tumors, including hidradenocarcinoma, malignant acrospiroma and clear cell eccrine carcinoma.[2] The overall incidence of all eccrine carcinomas is 6% which represent <1% (0.1-1) of all skin neoplasms.[3] Body involvement is 65% on the soles, 10% on the palms and 25% in other regions (extremities, face, neck and trunk).[4]
Case Report
A 75 years old female presented to our institute with an enlarging, painless, nodular mass in the right side of nose near the medial canthus of the right eye, that began 12 months prior to the presentation. The mass was associated with ulceration, but not with bleeding or any kind of discharge. Though, located near to the eye, it was not affecting the sight. Figure 1 describes the site of the lesion at the time of presentation. There was no regional aurical, cervical, or submandibular lymphadenopathy. The remainder of the ocular and general physical examination including examination of the liver and lungs was normal. Basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma was suspected on the basis of the clinical examination. A complete, wide excision of the nodular mass with a clear margin of healthy surrounding tissue was performed along with primary closure. Figure 2 shows the photograph of the patient post operatively.
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Figure 1: Skin lesion on the right eyelid |
Figure 2: The site of lesion after surgery |
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Figure 3: Photomicrograph shows skin lined with stratified squamous epithelium. Dermis shows lobulated mass extending into subcutaneous tissue revealing follicular and clear cells. |
Figure 4: Photomicrograph shows two cell types -1. Polygonal cells with rounded nucleus and slightly basophilic cytoplasm 2.Clear cells with rounded nucleus and clear cytoplasm. |
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Figure 5:
CECT scan of head with normal findings. |
Discussion
Hidradenoma usually affects middle-aged women, although its malignant form shows no age or gender predilection.1 It is predominant in females.[5] Though, in our case, the disease was noticed as a nodule in an old female without any lymph node involvement.
As also described in the literature, these neoplasms present as nodules, frequently with superimposed ulceration and rapid growth, affecting the head and neck and the distal extremities of the elderly.2 Regional lymphadenopathy, with or without serous discharge, may develop years after initial treatment.[1]
These tumours are postulated to arise from the intradermal duct of eccrine sweat glands.[5] Histologically, sweat glands may be either eccrine or apocrine in nature. Eccrine glands are present throughout the skin but are most abundant in the palms, soles, and axillae. Apocrine glands are found in relatively fewer regions of the body, mainly the axillae, around the nipples, the anogenital region, and occasionally a small number on the abdomen and chest.[6]
Eccrine hidradenomas are also referred as nodular hidradenoma or clear cell hidradenomas arising from the eccrine sweat glands. This nomenclature is based on electron microscopy and histochemical studies.[7]
The differential diagnosis includes primary skin tumors with follicular, sebaceous, or sweat gland differentiation. Hidradenomas can mimic cutaneous metastatic disease from clear cell tumors such as renal cell carcinoma.[8] The possibility of a primary basal cell carcinoma with eccentric differentiation and a lobular, hyalinised syringoma should also be included in the histological differential diagnosis.[9]
The criteria for malignancy include poor circumscription, presence of nuclear atypia, mitotic activity, presence of predominantly solid cell islands, infiltrative growth pattern, necrosis, and angio-lymphatic permeation.[9]
The 5-year postsurgical survival rate for malignant nodular hidradenoma is reported to be less than 30%.[10] Surgical excision remains the therapeutic modality of choice.[1] Wong et al supported wide surgical resection with a least 2 cm of clear margins for both primary disease and local recurrences.[11] Mohs micrographic surgery may prove superior to the conventional excision and manifest a lower recurrence rate.[3] Elective regional lymphadenectomy after lymphoscintigraphy should also be performed.[1] At the time of excision of eccrine tumors, some researchers have utilized the Sentinel Lymph Node eccrine tumors, some researchers have utilized the Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB) to detect the possible regional microscopic lymph node metastasis. These authors suggest that spotting a sentinel lymph node could be the right diagnostic approach for staging the disease as it happens for breast cancer. Positivity of sentinel lymph node also permits to assess the indication for radical lymphadenectomy. Whether early detection and treatment of lymph node metastases could improve overall survival or not, however, is not clear at this time.[12,13] The role of sentinel lymph node biopsy in the treatment of malignant hidradenoma is controversial.[1] In the absence of known distant metastases, clinically involved nodal regions should be dissected and irradiated, while clinically uninvolved primary nodal drainage areas should be either dissected or irradiated. The role of a selective neck dissection is still debated and there is no clear evidence to its usefulness.[14]
The choice of adjuvant therapy is controversial. Certain histopathology criteria should encourage consideration of post excisional radiotherapy, the features, such as dermal lymphatic invasion, nerve-sheath involvement, deep structure infiltration, positive resection margins, highly anaplastic morphology, and extracapsular lymph node extension, may identify a high risk of recurrence.[15,16] Harari and colleagues reported complete remissions after external beam radiotherapy for sweat gland tumors with positive margins after surgery, the dose and technique of radiotherapy are not consensual. In the work of Harari et al, primary surgical beds were treated with 70 Gy, using a combination of photons and electrons, and regional lymphatic chains with 50 Gy. Hyperfractionation schemes were used in two patients to minimize late normal tissue effects.[16]
As mentioned in various studies described above, the treatment strategy is individualised. In our patient, wide local excision of the mass was done. Adjuvant radiotherapy was given due to the presence of high risk features. The main post radiotherapy side effect seen in our patient was epiphora. Though, side effects and complications may vary according to primary site and are dose dependent. There are both acute and long-term sequelae of radiation therapy for head and neck cancer that occur because of effects on normal tissues. Some common adverse effects include mucositis, xerostomia, trismus, hearing loss, and facial nerve dysfunction. Severe late complications include the risk of soft tissue necrosis, osteoradionecrosis, orocutaneous fistula, blindness, and second malignancies.[14] With the advent of new techniques of radiotherapy; such side effects are less frequent and better tolerated.
Conclusion
Malignant nodular hidradenoma is a rare oncological entity, with no particular clinical or histopathological features. It should be included in the differential diagnosis of skin lesions.
References
- Lliapakis IE, Korkolis DP, Koutsoumbi A, Fida A, Kokkalis G, Vassilopoulos PP. Malignant hidradenoma: a report of two cases and review of the literature. Anticancer Research. 2006;26:2217-20.
- Crowson AN, Magro CM, Mihm MC. Malignant adnexal neoplasms. Modern Pathology. 2006;19:93-126.
- Giorgini E, Tugnoli G, Aprile S, Collina G, Villani S, Biscardi A, et al. Malignant Nodular Hidradenocarcinoma Arising on the Areola of a Male Patient: Case Report of an “Orphan Disease” and Review of the Literature. J Carcinogene Mutagene. 2012;3;2157-518.
- Ackerman AB, Abenoza P. Neoplasms with eccrine differentiation. Philadelphia (PA) Lea & Febiger. 1990:113-85.
- Singh G, Kumar H, N.S S, Datti NP, M S, Rupnarayan K. Malignant clear cell hidradenoma of the upper eyelid. Electronic Physician. 2012;4(2):490-2.
- Ahluwalia BK, Khurana AK, Chugh AD, Mehtani VG. Eccrine spiradenoma of the eyelid: Case report. Br J Ophthalmol. 1986;70:580–3.
- Pont RL. Eyelids and lacrimal drainage system. In: Spencer WH, editor. Ophthalmic pathology: An Atlas and Textbook. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Co; 1986. p. 2214–28.
- Volmar KE, Cummings TJ, Wang WH, Creager AJ, Tyler DS, Xie HB. Clear cell hidradenoma: A mimic of metastatic clear cell tumors. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2005;129:113–6.
- Baghli AA, Reddy SS, A M. Malignant Nodular Hidradenoma of the Eyelid: A Rare Sweat Gland Tumor. Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol. 2010 Oct-Dec;17(4):374-6.
- Mirza I, Kloss R, Sieber SC. Malignant eccrine spiradenoma. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2002;126:591-4.
- Wong A, Suster S, Nogita , Duncan LM, Dickersin RG, Mihm MC: Clear cell eccrine carcinomas of the skin. A clinicopathologic study of nine patients. Cancer. 1994;73:1631-43..
- Bogner PN, Fullen DR, Lowe L, Paulino A, Biermann JS. Lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy in the detection of early metastasis from sweat gland carcinoma. Cancer. 2003;97:2285-9.
- Delgado R, Kraus D, Coit DG, Busam KJ. Sentinel lymph node analysis in patients with sweat gland carcinoma. Cancer. 2003;97:2279-84.
- Lalya I, Hadadi K, Tazi EM, Lalya I, Bazine A, Andaloussy K etal. Radiotherapy on hidradenocarcinoma. N Am J Med Sci. 2011 Jan;3(1):43–5.
- Hall J, Kneey G, A’Hern RP. Sweat-gland Tumours: A Clinical Review of Cases in One Centre Over 20 Years. Clin Oncol. 2006;18:351–9.
- Harari PM, Shimm DS, Bangert J. The role of radiotherapy in the treatment of malignant sweat gland neoplasms. Cancer. 1990;65:1737–40.
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