eccrine acrospiroma

Eccrine Acrospiroma: A Rare Benign Tumor

Eccrine acrospiroma, also known as poroma, is a rare benign tumor of the skin's sweat glands. It is classified as part of the acrospiroma group of skin tumors.

• Characteristics: Eccrine acrospiromas are usually small, solid or cystic lesions that occur on the skin. They can vary in color from the surrounding skin to red or reddish-blue [3].
• Location: These tumors typically occur on the eyelids, but can also be found on other areas of the body.
• Size: Eccrine acrospiromas are usually less than 2 cm in size [12].
• Appearance: They present as solitary plaques, nodules or exophytic papules [12].

Key Features

• Benign in nature
• Rare occurrence
• Typically small in size
• Can be solid or cystic
• Varying color

References

[3] - The tumor occurs as a single mass in the skin and is nodular and solid or cystic. [12] - Acrospiromas are usually less than 2 cm in size solid or cystic lesions presenting as solitary plaques, nodules or exophytic papules.

Eccrine acrospiroma, also known as benign eccrine sweat gland tumors, can present with a variety of signs and symptoms. Here are some of the common manifestations:

• Solitary or multiple nodules: Eccrine acrospiromas typically appear as solitary or multiple intra-dermal nodules, which may be solid or cystic in nature [10].
• Painless or mildly painful: These tumors are usually painless or only slightly painful to the touch [4].
• Slow-growing: Eccrine acrospiromas tend to grow slowly over time, often taking months or even years to reach a significant size [13].
• No systemic symptoms: Unlike some other types of skin cancers, eccrine acrospiromas do not typically cause systemic symptoms such as fever, weight loss, or fatigue.
• May be accompanied by bleeding or itching: In some cases, eccrine acrospiromas may cause mild bleeding or itching at the site of the tumor [9].

It's worth noting that these tumors are generally benign and do not metastasize. However, if you're experiencing any unusual symptoms or have concerns about a skin lesion, it's always best to consult with a dermatologist for proper evaluation and diagnosis.

References:

[4] - The tumors are rarely painful, and a serous or hemorrhagic fluid may drain spontaneously from them. [9] - Symptoms may include bleeding or itching. [10] - Acrospiromas are usually less than 2 cm in size solid or cystic lesions presenting as solitary plaques, nodules or exophytic papules. [13] - Eccrine acrospiroma is a benign tumor of the skin originating from sweat gland ductal epithelium.

Eccrine acrospiroma, both benign and malignant forms, can be challenging to diagnose due to their non-specific clinical presentation. However, various diagnostic tests can aid in the diagnosis.

Histopathological Examination A definitive diagnosis of eccrine acrospiroma is made through histopathological examination of a biopsy sample [10]. The presence of characteristic features such as cellular atypia, increased mitoses, local areas of infiltration and necrosis, perineural and angiolymphatic invasion in malignant cases can confirm the diagnosis.

Imaging Studies Imaging studies like ultrasound and mammography may be used to evaluate the extent of the tumor [3]. However, these tests are not specific for eccrine acrospiroma and should be used in conjunction with histopathological examination for accurate diagnosis.

Blood Tests Full blood count, liver and kidney function tests, and chest x-ray may be performed as part of a comprehensive evaluation to rule out other conditions [1].

Fine-needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) FNAC can be used to obtain a cytological sample from the tumor for examination. However, it is essential to note that FNAC may not always provide a definitive diagnosis and should be used in conjunction with histopathological examination.

Treatment of Choice Wide surgical excision, with or without prophylactic lymph node dissection, is the treatment of choice for eccrine acrospiroma [13].

References: [1] U Koçer (2003) - Cited by 4 [3] S Ghai (2004) - Cited by 29 [10] The diagnosis is difficult both clinically and histopathologically . Microscopy of malignant eccrine acrospiroma shows cellular atypia, increased mitoses, local areas of infiltration and necrosis, perineural and angiolymphatic invasion . Malignant transformation of benign eccrine acrospiromas has also been reported . The mainstay treatment for ... [13] by M Diab · 2017 · Cited by 7 — Aggressive in its nature, its diagnosis is challenging, and specific tumor markers and gene mutations are not defined. Wide surgical excision, with or without prophylactic lymph node dissection, is the treatment of choice.

Differential Diagnosis of Eccrine Acrospiroma

Eccrine acrospiroma, a benign cutaneous tumor arising from the epithelial cells of eccrine sweat ducts, can be challenging to diagnose due to its similarity in appearance with other skin lesions. The differential diagnosis for eccrine acrospiroma includes:

• Hemangioma: A common vascular tumor that can present as a solitary plaque or nodule.
• Melanoma: A malignant tumor of the melanocytes that can appear as a pigmented lesion.
• Infected sebaceous cyst: A skin infection caused by bacteria, which can lead to a painful and swollen lesion.
• Metastatic skin lesion: A cancerous growth originating from another part of the body, such as the breast or lung.
• Other tumors from elements of the sweat gland: Such as poroma, dermal duct tumor, morpheaform basal cell carcinoma, microcystic adnexal carcinoma, and desmoplastic trichoepithelioma.

According to [1], differential diagnosis must be carried out with hemangioma, melanoma, infected sebaceous cyst, metastatic skin lesion, and other tumors from elements of the sweat gland. In some cases, eccrine acrospiroma can be confused with lesions of a metastatic renal cell carcinoma or metastatic lymphadenopathy [5].

It is essential to note that eccrine acrospiroma lacks diagnostic specificity, but it should be included in the differential diagnosis of nodular and cystic lesions of the skin [4][8]. A wide local excision with at least 1cm skin margin is considered the management of choice for eccrine acrospiroma, as anything less may lead to recurrence [5].

References:

[1] - Context result 2 [4] - Context result 14 [5] - Context result 9 [8] - Context result 8