Primary Cutaneous Apocrine Carcinoma

Abstract

Primary cutaneous apocrine carcinoma is a rare malignancy. This study of 24 examples suggests that the prognosis is not always poor and that grading criteria devised for breast carcinoma may have utility in this group of malignancies. Furthermore, steroid receptor expression should be investigated in these tumors, particularly if a tumor is unlikely to be controlled by surgery alone.

Primary apocrine carcinoma of the axilla in a male patient: a case report

“…It usually occurs as a single or multinodular mass, or plaque, and is often misdiagnosed 2, 8. It is difficult to distinguish it from a metastatic breast or lymph node carcinoma and requires a thorough history and clinical evaluation for breast cancer along with a meticulous histopathological workup in such patients.…”

“…Metastasis has been reported in about 30% of cases 2, 8. Regional lymph node metastasis is considered as an important prognostic factor.…”

“…The cytoplasm of the tumor cells contains periodic acid–Schiff‐positive, diastase‐resistant granules and often iron‐positive granules 3, 5, 9. Robson et al 2 suggested that apocrine carcinoma can be diagnosed mainly by its hallmark histologic features, such as abundant granular, eosinophilic cytoplasm with luminal decapitation secretion.…”

“…It's usually slow growing, giving the clinical picture of a benign lesion but can sometimes progress rapidly and aggressively 2, 3, 4, 5. Clinically, it often presents as painless, indurate, nodules, or plaques 6, 7.…”

“…Clinically, it often presents as painless, indurate, nodules, or plaques 6, 7. Mostly it affects the axilla and anogenital region but it can also affect the scalp, eyelid, ear, lip, chest, nipple, fingers, and toes 1, 2, 4. Apocrine carcinoma frequently affects the elderly population with a median age of 67 1.…”