Sebaceous Cell Carcinoma: A Persistent Challenge in Clinical and Histopathological Diagnosis

Abstract

Sebaceous cell carcinoma continues to defy clinicians and pathologists in terms of early diagnosis. The tumor may be mistaken as benign lesions such as chalazion and blepharitis, and also as malignant neoplasms, mainly basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Despite advances in immunohistochemical analysis and treatment options during the last decades, morbidity and metastasis rates remain high. Prognosis is strongly related to the length of time between diagnosis and initiation of treatment, which reinforces the importance of early recognition of this condition. This article reviews key features of sebaceous cell carcinoma, from epidemiology to treatment, and new strategies to improve outcome.

The usefulness of dermoscopy in extraocular sebaceous carcinoma

“…Malignant lesions tend to have irregular abruptly ending border, various colors in a single dermoscopic field, pleomorphic vessels, and presence of ulceration. Benign tumors have homogeneous background with yellow, ovoid structures and regularly distributed crown vessels around a central crater, while SC exhibits heterogeneous yellowish background with irregular and polymorphous vessels, with areas of ulceration,[ 5 ] as was seen in our case.…”

Sebaceous carcinoma of the axilla

“…Among the extra-ocular types of this malignancy, the parotid gland is the most common predilection; however, the patient presented with this extra-ocular type of neoplasm at an atypical location which was at the axilla. Furthermore, this neoplasm rarely presents in the younger population unless with a history of immunosuppression or exposure to radiation [ 4 ]. This patient is only 31 years old.…”

“…Thus, these tumors may arise anywhere on the body where these glands exist. This aggressive neoplasm affects patients predominantly between the sixth and eighth decades of life; it is rarely seen in younger individuals, except for those under immunosuppression or radiotherapy [ 4 ]. Sebaceous carcinomas have been traditionally classified into two types: the ocular type and the extra-ocular type [ 5 ].…”