Case Report

Abstract

Cutaneous apocrine adenocarcinoma (CAA) is a rare adnexal neoplasm that histologically can mimic breast carcinoma metastatic to the skin or apocrine carcinoma arising in ectopic breast tissue. It can present with a wide range of clinical modalities and can often simulate many benign processes, which delays its diagnosis and hinders its prognosis. We describe a case of a 33-year-old man who had a short-evolution small nodule in the right axilla with local lymph node metastases. The immunohistochemical characterization was closer to that of breast adenocarcinoma than to an adnexal neoplasm. This was established as the main differential diagnosis. Diagnosis of cutaneous apocrine adenocarcinoma may be difficult and immunomarkers are not specific. The anatomical criteria and systemic investigation are mandatory to establish the correct diagnosis.

Co-occurrence of apocrine adenocarcinoma and invasive mammary-type ductal carcinoma in extramammary Paget disease of the axilla

“…When EMPD with apocrine carcinoma is found in the axilla, it is necessary to rule out an underlying breast carcinoma or primary breast cancer in ectopic breast tissue. Though the tumor cells of apocrine adenocarcinoma and invasive mammary-type ductal carcinoma show different histological features on hematoxylin and eosin stains, they share immunohistochemical results, meaning that an immunohistochemical stain does not help differentiate these diseases 8 . Therefore, it is difficult to distinguish whether two such tumors are of different origin.…”

Apocrine Carcinoma of the Axilla Associated with Extramammary Paget’s Disease: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

“…When apocrine carcinoma is present in the axilla, metastasis from breast apocrine carcinoma or primary breast cancer in ectopic mammary tissue must be ruled out. Immunohistochemistry is not helpful in differentiating these options [ 10 ]. In apocrine carcinoma of ectopic mammary tissue, remaining ectopic mammary tissue is present in the sample.…”

Ex vivo analysis of DNA repair targeting in extreme rare cutaneous apocrine sweat gland carcinoma

“…The tumorigenesis of these rare cancers is largely unclear, but histologically cutaneous apocrine gland carcinomas mimic metastatic apocrine breast cancer or apocrine carcinomas arising in ectopic breast tissue [ 5 , 6 ]. To establish correct clinical diagnosis CAC thus needs to be distinguished from these other apocrine malignancies through detailed histological examination [ 7 ]. Although the reported local recurrence rate and lymph node metastasis for CAC cases is around 50%, reported mortality from the disease is low [ 2 ].…”