Eccrine carcinoma

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD's medical weight loss NYC, sleep center NYC
Philadelphia medical weight loss and Philadelphia sleep clinics

Eccrine carcinoma
Eccrine carcinoma
Synonyms	N/A
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	Dermatology, Oncology
Symptoms	Skin lesion, nodule, ulceration
Complications	N/A
Onset	Typically in adulthood
Duration	Chronic
Types	N/A
Causes	Genetic mutations, environmental factors
Risks	Sun exposure, family history
Diagnosis	Biopsy, histopathology
Differential diagnosis	Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Surgical excision, radiation therapy, chemotherapy
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Variable, depends on stage and treatment
Frequency	Rare
Deaths	N/A

A rare type of sweat gland cancer

Eccrine carcinoma is a rare form of skin cancer that originates from the eccrine sweat glands. These glands are responsible for the production of sweat and are distributed throughout the human body, with a higher concentration on the palms, soles, and forehead.

Pathophysiology

Eccrine carcinoma arises from the epithelial cells of the eccrine sweat glands. These tumors can exhibit a variety of histological patterns, making diagnosis challenging. The cancerous cells can invade surrounding tissues and, in some cases, metastasize to distant organs.

Clinical Presentation

Patients with eccrine carcinoma typically present with a slow-growing, painless nodule on the skin. The lesion may appear as a solitary, firm, and sometimes ulcerated mass. Common sites include the head, neck, and extremities, reflecting the distribution of eccrine glands.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of eccrine carcinoma is primarily based on histopathological examination. A biopsy of the lesion is performed, and the tissue is analyzed under a microscope. Immunohistochemical staining may be used to differentiate eccrine carcinoma from other types of skin tumors.

Treatment

The primary treatment for eccrine carcinoma is surgical excision with clear margins. In cases where the tumor is not resectable or has metastasized, additional treatments such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy may be considered. The choice of treatment depends on the stage of the cancer and the overall health of the patient.

Prognosis

The prognosis for patients with eccrine carcinoma varies depending on the stage at diagnosis and the presence of metastasis. Early detection and complete surgical removal of the tumor generally result in a favorable outcome. However, advanced cases with distant metastasis have a poorer prognosis.

See also

• Skin cancer
• Sweat gland
• Histopathology
• Oncology