Title

Microcystic adnexal carcinoma. Case report and review of the literature

UMMS Affiliation

Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology

Publication Date

1996-02-01

Document Type

Article

Subjects

Adult; Biopsy; Carcinoma, Skin Appendage; Diagnosis, Differential; Diagnostic Errors; Humans; Male; Mohs Surgery; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Nose Neoplasms; Rhinoplasty; Skin Transplantation

Disciplines

Dermatology | Neoplasms | Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Abstract

Microcystic adnexal carcinoma is an aggressive, locally destructive cutaneous neoplasm with a high rate of recurrence. This tumor is often misdiagnosed clinically and histologically. It usually occurs in middle-aged to older adults. We describe a 44-year-old man with a large microcystic adnexal carcinoma that was present for more than 20 years. The tumor invaded the perichondrium, muscle, nerve, and blood vessel adventitia. A review of the literature suggests that these tumors are often histologically misdiagnosed because the biopsy specimens may be too small to reveal all the characteristic histologic features. The clinical presence of marked induration, a smooth surface, and, possibly, sensory changes should alert the clinician to the possibility of this neoplasm. The initial biopsy specimen must be large enough to demonstrate the identifying histologic features. Mohs surgery is currently the treatment of choice for microcystic adnexal carcinoma, as it often spreads far beyond clinically evident tumor.

DOI of Published Version

10.1001/archotol.1996.01890140065012

Source

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1996 Feb;122(2):179-82. doi:10.1001/archotol.1996.01890140065012

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Archives of otolaryngology--head and neck surgery

Comments

At the time of publication, Mary E. Maloney was not yet affiliated with the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Related Resources

Link to Article in PubMed

PubMed ID

8630212

Link to Full Text

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