Primary Cutaneous Apocrine Carcinoma of the Neck Involving the Parotid Gland: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Introduction: Primary cutaneous apocrine carcinoma (PCAC) is a rare skin malignant tumor that originates from areas with a high concentration of apocrine glands. The incidence of PCAC in the neck is relatively low. The age of onset in PCAC ranges from 5 to 70 years old. Clinically, PCAC typically shows up as painless nodules or lumps. In immunohistochemistry, positive expression of CK-7, GCDFP-15, AR, and myoepithelial markers are helpful in the diagnosis of PCAC. This case report pertains to a 59-year-old male of Asian descent. Five years ago, a painless mass was discovered behind his right ear, which grew slowly. This patient was identified as PCAC based on clinical symptoms, pathology, immunohistochemistry, and imaging characteristics. PCAC involved the parotid gland in this case;it is easy to be misdiagnosed as a primary malignant tumor of the parotid gland on imaging. Furthermore, a thorough set of clinical, imaging, pathological, and immunohistochemical examinations must be performed to make a diagnosis because it is challenging to differentiate PCAC from metastatic breast carcinoma. Conclusion: A well-developed multidisciplinary examination is essential because PCAC can be challenging to diagnose and differentiate.

Metastatic apocrine sweat gland adenocarcinoma in a terrier dog

This report describes the clinical and pathological aspects of an apocrine sweat gland carcinoma with distant metastasis in an aged dog.A 7-year-old male terrier dog was referred to small animal hospital of Shuhid Bahonar University of Kerman with a 5.5×3.5 centimeter pedunculated mass on its head near left auricular region which had been progressively growing since tliree months ago.The radiography showed no local and distant metastasis.Surgical excision and histological evaluation was done.Histologically,the mass was composed of epithelial cells arranged in glandular and solid patterns.The morphologic findings suggested either a primary or metastatic apocrine-gland carcinoma.Immunohistochemically,the tumor cells were intensely positive for cytokeratin 7 and 20 and negative for S100 protein.On the basis of histopathological and clinical findings,the tumor was diagnosed as a malignant apocrine gland tumor,arising from apocrine sweat glands of the skin.Local tumor recurrence with anorexia and weight loss was reported by the owner nine month later.Severe submandibular and prescapular lymphadenomegaly was noted in clinical examination.Several large pulmonary nodules were noted in chest radiographs resembling mediastinal lymph node metastasis.Second surgery and chemotherapy was rejected by the owner due to grave prognosis of the patient.The animal was died 45 days later due to respiratory complications.Tumors of apocrine sweat glands are relatively uncommon in dogs whereas apocrine gland adenocarcinoma with distant metastasis is extremely rare.

Locally recurrent penile apocrine carcinoma initially diagnosed as metastatic adenocarcinoma of colon

Apocrine carcinoma is a rare malignant adnexal neoplasm. The differential diagnosis between apocrine carcinoma and cutaneous metastasis is often difficult. Here, we report a case of locally recurrent penile apocrine carcinoma initially diagnosed as metastatic adenocarcinoma of the colon. A 75-year-old man with a history of surgical resection due to sigmoid colon cancer and penile metastasis two years prior to this study presented with a nodule at the left penile base. He underwent a wide local resection of the penile mass under a suggested preoperative diagnosis of extra-mammary Paget＇s disease （EMPD） associated with previous sigmoid colon cancer. However, the previously and currently resected penile masses were identified as primary apocrine carcinoma upon hematoxylin and eosin （H＆E） staining and immunohistochemical staining. Although the incidence is extremely rare, both clinicians and pathologists should be alert to the possibility of synchronous double primary apocrine carcinoma in cancer patients with malignant cutaneous lesions.

Neoadjuvant targeted therapy for apocrine carcinoma of the breast:A case report

BACKGROUND Apocrine carcinoma of the breast is a special type of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast that is rare in clinical practice.Neoadjuvant therapy,especially neoadjuvant targeted therapy,has rarely been reported for apocrine carcinoma of the breast.CASE SUMMARY A 63-year-old woman presented with apocrine carcinoma of the left breast underwent core needle biopsy.The patient was diagnosed with apocrine carcinoma by immunohistochemical staining and negative hormone status(estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor)but showed overexpression of human epidermal factor receptor 2(HER-2).Moreover,positive expression of androgen receptor(approximately 60%)and gross cystic disease fluid protein 15 was observed.The patient was treated with neoadjuvant targeted therapy consisting of the TCH regimen(docetaxel,carboplatin area under curve 6 and trastuzumab)every 21 d.The mass in the left breast was significantly reduced,and pain in the breast and left upper arm also improved.CONCLUSION HER-2 positive apocrine carcinoma of the breast can be improved by neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with targeted therapy.

Apocrine adenocarcinoma of the eyelid

Dear Sir,Sweat gland neoplasms of the ocular region are rare^（[1]）.Traditionally,these lesions are classified as either of eccrine or apocrine origin.The cardinal feature of apocrine tumors includes having apical decapitation secretions from the cells rather than forming simple secretory units with tubules,such as the case with their eccrine counterpart^（[2-4]）.Apocrine lesions can be both benign and malignant.There are

Apocrine hidrocystoma of the conjunctiva

Dear Sir, I am Dr. Boyun Kim, form the Department of Ophthalmology, Bucheon St. Mary’s Hospital, Bucheon, Korea. I write to present a case report of apocrine hidrocystoma on temporal bulbar conjunctiva. Apocrine hidrocystoma (AH) is a benign cutaneous cystic nodule arising from apocrine glands of Moll [1]. This lesion usually occurs on eyelids and canthus [1,2], ears, chest, shoulders in adults but its occurrence in conjunctiva [3] is

Erectile Dysfunction in Male with Glans Penis Apocrine Hydrocystoma: Organic or Psychogenic?

The location of the apocrine hydrocystoma in the penis region is rare. We present a case where we evaluated the erectile function of a patient presenting such an asymptomatic formation. We assessed the psychogenic component of the erectile dysfunction based on the association of the somatic component of the cyst with the patient’s inability to focus on sexual intercourse. The fear of traumatization of the cyst during sexual intercourse was considered as a triggering factor of the chain of insufficient or unsuccessful erections, and the sexual performance anxiety as a factor in maintaining this erectile dysfunction. Apparently, an organic cause induced an erectile dysfunction, through non-organic (predisposition, triggering and maintenance) mechanisms.

Epididymosomes are involved in the acquisition of new sperm proteins during epididymal transit

During epididymal transit, spermatozoa acquire new proteins. Some of these newly acquired proteins behave as integral membrane proteins, including glycosylphosphatidylinositol （GPI）-anchored proteins. This suggests that the secreted epididymal proteins are transferred to spermatozoa by an unusual mechanism. Within the epididymal lumen, spermatozoa interact with small membranous vesicles named epididymosomes. Many proteins are associated with epididymosomes and the protein composition of these vesicles varies along the excurrent duct and differs from soluble intraluminal proteins. Some epididymosome-associated proteins have been identified and their functions in sperm maturation hypothesized. These include P25b, a zona pellucida binding protein, macrophage migration inhibitory factor, enzymes of the polyol pathway, HE5/CD52, type 5 glutathione peroxidase, and SPAM 1 or PH-20. The electrophoretic patterns of proteins associated to epididymosomes are complex and some of these proteins are transferred to defined surface domains of epididymal spermatozoa. Epididymosomes collected from different epididymal segments interact differently with spermatozoa. This protein transfer from epididymosomes to spermatozoa is timedependent, temperature-dependent and pH-dependent, and is more efficient in the presence of zinc. Some proteins are segregated to lipid raft domains of epididymosomes and are selectively transferred to raft domains of the sperm plasma membrane. Some evidence is presented showing that epididymosomes are secreted in an apocrine manner by the epididymal epithelial cells. In conclusion, epididymosomes are small membranous vesicles secreted in an apocrine manner in the intraluminal compartment of the epididymis and play a major role in the acquisition of new proteins by the maturing spermatozoa. （Asian J Androl 2007 July; 9： 483-491）

A Case of Congenital Syringocystadenoma Papilliferum

Syringocystadenoma papilliferum(SCAP)is a rare benign skin tumor that develops from the apocrine or eccrine glands.Here,we report the case of a 2-year-old girl who presented with an asymptomatic,slowly growing lesion on her scalp.On physical examination,a 2 cm×1 cm red papillary plaque with a crusted surface was noted on her scalp.Histo­pathological examination revealed papillomatous expansion of the epidermis and cystic invaginations extending from the epidermis down to the deep dermis.The cystic structures were lined by papillae with two layers of columnar epithelium,which showed decapitation secretion.Based on the above clinicopathological findings,a diagnosis of congenital scalp SCAP was made.