Sweat gland tumors are a group of benign and malignant neoplasms originating from the cells of the excretory ducts of the sweat glands. Usually they are nodes in the shape of a hemisphere. Most neoplasms are characterized by slow growth and lack of tendency to ulceration (with the exception of malignant lesions). Some tumors of the sweat glands may recur with insufficiently radical removal. The diagnosis is made on the basis of medical history, complaints, results of external examination and histological examination data. Treatment – surgical removal, diathermocoagulation, laser evaporation, cryodestruction.
General information
Sweat gland tumors are a group of neoplasms originating from the excretory ducts of the apocrine and eccrine sweat glands. In most cases, they have a benign course, and may differ significantly in their structure. The list of benign tumors of the sweat glands includes eccrine spiradenoma, eccrine poroma, papillary hydradenoma, syringoadenoma, syringoma and some other diseases. Malignant neoplasms are represented by syringocarcinoma (adenocystic cancer of the sweat glands). The predominant localization of neoplasia and the average age of patients are determined by the type of neoplasm. The treatment is carried out by specialists in the field of dermatology and oncology.
Benign tumors
Syringoma (hydradenoma) is an apocrine sweat gland tumors. Usually syringoma is formed in adolescence or old age. Women suffer more often than men. The causes of development are unknown, but it has been found that syringomas are more common in patients with diabetes mellitus, Down syndrome, Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Tumors of the sweat glands are multiple, dense, painless, pink, yellow or bluish-maroon, rounded or oval, with a diameter of no more than 2-3 mm, rarely up to 1 cm.
Most often they are localized in the face or chest area, less often – on the arms, neck and in the abdominal area. In some cases, the lesion of the external genitalia is detected. The current is long. The diagnosis is made taking into account an objective examination and histological examination data. Treatment of a sweat gland tumors is diathermocoagulation, cryodestruction or laser therapy. In some cases (with large syringomas located on closed areas of the skin), surgical curettage is performed. The prognosis is favorable.
Syringoadenoma is an apocrine sweat gland tumors. It is rarely diagnosed. As a rule, it develops in childhood and adolescence, less common in the elderly. It is located mainly in the area of the scalp, inguinal region, mammary gland area and axillary areas. It is a single dense nodule with an uneven surface of gray or gray-yellow color. The swelling of the sweat glands is usually painless, some patients complain of non-intense pain or local itching. Ulceration is possible, sometimes accompanied by an acceleration of neoplasia growth. The treatment is surgical. In some cases, relapses are observed. The prognosis is favorable.
Eccrine spiradenoma is an eccrine sweat gland tumors. It is rarely detected. Usually occurs in young patients, men suffer more often than women. It can affect any area of the body with the exception of soles, palms, ankle and hip joints. In most cases, it is located in the area of the head or trunk. The sweat gland tumors is a dense rounded node with a size of 3 to 5 cm. It can be either single or multiple. There may be pain and discomfort with pressure, touch or changes in the temperature of the external environment. To confirm the diagnosis, a histological examination is performed. Treatment – electrical dissection, laser removal, surgical excision. Sometimes the tumor recurs. The prognosis is favorable.
Eccrine poroma is an eccrine sweat gland tumors. Usually occurs in old age, there is a slight predominance of male patients. Sometimes it develops against the background of chronic radiation dermatitis. As a rule, the sweat gland tumors is located in the extremities. More often single. It is a smooth shiny pink, red or brown nodule up to 2 cm in size. Telangiectasia is detected on the surface of the nodule. Hyperkeratosis or peeling are possible. The current is long. The diagnosis is made taking into account the histological examination data. Treatment – laser evaporation, electrical dissection, surgical removal. The prognosis is favorable.
Papillary hydradenoma is an apocrine sweat gland tumors. It usually develops in patients older than 40 years. Women suffer more often than men. Papillary hydradenoma is the rarest apocrine neoplasm of the sweat glands. It is located in the perianal region, the area of the perineum and labia majora. It is a rounded soft or elastic-elastic mobile grayish-blue formation with a size of 0.5 to 5 or more cm. Small tumors of the sweat glands are asymptomatic. Patients with large neoplasias may complain of a feeling of itching or bursting. If the nodule is damaged, infection and purulent melting of the tumor is possible. The final diagnosis is made after a histological examination. The treatment is surgical. The prognosis is favorable.
Malignant tumors
Syringocarcinoma (adenocystic cancer of the sweat glands, hydrocarcinoma) is a malignant sweat gland tumors. It is extremely rare. It is characterized by a fairly favorable course with predominantly slow local growth. Metastases usually appear 3-5 years after the onset of neoplasia. There are separate descriptions of cases of rapid growth and metastasis in the literature. The origin is not definitively established. Some researchers suggest that the sweat gland tumors develops from the apocrine glands, others – from the eccrine glands. There are no convincing arguments in favor of any option yet.
As a rule, elderly people suffer. A sweat gland tumors is equally often detected in men and women. Usually affects the face, scalp and upper extremities. Less often found in the chest, back or abdomen. It is a single rounded pinkish knot or plaque rising above the surface of the skin. The boundaries of the sweat gland tumors are indistinct. The size of neoplasia can range from 1 to 8 cm. Microscopically it consists of cribritic, tubular and solid structures with a predominance of tubular and cribritic components.
Often there are no pathognomonic histological signs, the structure of the sweat gland tumors may resemble any other glandular neoplasia, including metastatic skin lesions in ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer and other glandular organs. Due to polymorphism, the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of this sweat gland tumors can be difficult. In some cases, the final diagnosis is possible only after the exclusion of primary oncological lesions of other organs. The treatment is surgical. In the early stages, the prognosis is relatively favorable. There is a tendency to relapse. If metastases occur, an unfavorable outcome is possible.
