Abstract

ECCRINE POROCARCINOMA – A RARE MALIGNANT SKIN LESION

Sunderesh Kamal Chander U., Vani Shree M.*, Dhanya Menon and Sonti Sulochana

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Abstract

Eccrine porocarcinoma (EPC) is a rare type of skin cancer arising from the intra epidermal portion of eccrine sweat glands, representing 0.005- 0.01% of all cutaneous tumors. About 20% of EPC recur and about 20% will metastasize to regional lymph nodes. These cancers have a mortality rate of 67% in patients with lymph node metastases. Due to its nonspecific clinical presentation, it can be misdiagnosed with Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) and Trichoepitheliomas. Hence the diagnosis of EPC must be based on histopathological features and IHC markers because of its potential to metastasize to distant organs. The main line of management is gross total surgical excision with a wide safety margin. Adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy are used in cases of metastasis and to reduce local recurrence. Here we present a case of a 50 year old female who presented with a swelling with an overlying ulceration on the back of her left thigh. The swelling was intermittently painful. On examination the swelling was 2.2 x 2 x 1cm on left thigh region and the clinical diagnosis was given as papilloma. An excision biopsy was done. Histopathological and immunohistochemical examination showed features of Eccrine porocarcinoma. This case is reported here due to its extreme rarity.

Keywords: Eccrine porocarcinoma; Malignant skin adnexal tumors; Sweat gland tumors; Adnexal tumours.