Sweat gland carcinoma with metastases to the skin: response to 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy

Cutis. 1995 Apr;55(4):221-4.

Abstract

A 68-year-old white man presented to the inpatient service at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital with a chief complaint of a progressively enlarging tumor of the right infraorbital region for many years and multiple, pink papulonodules on his head, neck, and trunk. A biopsy specimen of the right infraorbital and back lesions demonstrated an infiltrating adenocarcinoma with prominent signet ring cells, and small lumen formation. Results of an extensive work-up revealed bone marrow metastases and no evidence of a primary malignancy. We present a case of primary sweat gland carcinoma with metastases to the skin based upon history, clinical presentation, results of physical examination, histopathologic examination, immunohistochemical studies, and response to 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy. Due to the rarity of the tumor, the diagnosis is usually not made until the tumor(s) is invasive. An excellent response to systemic chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil in metastatic sweat gland carcinoma was noted in this case.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Bone Marrow Diseases / pathology
  • Bone Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Bone Neoplasms / secondary
  • Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / secondary*
  • Facial Neoplasms / pathology
  • Fluorouracil / therapeutic use*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Orbital Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Scalp / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Skin Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Sweat Gland Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Sweat Gland Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Thoracic Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Fluorouracil