eccrine gland carcinoma

Last reviewed 09/2022

Eccrine gland carcinoma is a rare form of malignant sweat gland tumour. It may have a very diverse range of clinical appearances but there is typically a firm or hard dermal nodule. It may occur at sites with few eccrine glands.

Severaly subtypes are recognised according to cytological and histological features:

• clear cell
• syringoid; shows tubular and cystic proliferation
• 'classic'; difficult to differentiate from metastatic adenocarcinoma due to a large number of well-differentiated tubular structures
• chondroid
• porocarcinoma

Spread is aggressive including early distant metastasis. Eccrine gland carcinoma may be treated by wide local excision or with radiotherapy.