Case Reports

Primary Apocrine Adenocarcinoma of the Axilla

Cutis. 2015 May;95(5):271-274, 281

References

1. Robson A, Lazar AJ, Ben Nagi J, et al. Primary cutaneous apocrine carcinoma: a clinico-pathologic analysis of 24 cases. Am J Surg Pathol. 2008;32:682-690.

2. Cham PM, Niehans GA, Foman N, et al. Primary cutaneous apocrine carcinoma presenting as carcinoma erysipeloides [published online ahead of print November 6, 2007]. Br J Dermatol. 2008;158:194-196.

3. Chamberlain RS, Huber K, White JC, et al. Apocrine gland carcinoma of the axilla: review of the literature and recommendations for treatment. Am J Clin Oncol. 1999;22:131-135.

4. Pucevich B, Catinchi-Jaime S, Ho J, et al. Invasive primary ductal apocrine adenocarcinoma of axilla: a case report with immunohistochemical profiling and a review of literature. Dermatol Online J. 2008;14:5.

5. Paties C, Taccagni GL, Papotti M, et al. Apocrine carcinoma of the skin. a clinicopathologic, immunocytochemical, and ultrastructural study. Cancer. 1993;71:375-381.

6. Katagiri Y, Ansai S. Two cases of cutaneous apocrine ductal carcinoma of the axilla. case report and review of the literature. Dermatology. 1999;199:332-337.

7. Maury G, Guillot B, Bessis D, et al. Unusual axillary apocrine carcinoma of the skin: histological diagnostic difficulties [article in French] [published online ahead of print July 7, 2010]. Ann Dermatol Venereol. 2010;137:555-559.

8. Alex G. Apocrine adenocarcinoma of the nipple: a case report. Cases J. 2008;1:88.

9. MacNeill KN, Riddell RH, Ghazarian D. Perianal apocrine adenocarcinoma arising in a benign apocrine adenoma; first case report and review of the literature. J Clin Pathol. 2005;58:217-219.

10. Shintaku M, Tsuta K, Yoshida H, et al. Apocrine adenocarcinoma of the eyelid with aggressive biological behavior: report of a case. Pathol Int. 2002;52:169-173.

11. Zehr KJ, Rubin M, Ratner L. Apocrine adenocarcinoma presenting as a large ulcerated axillary mass. Dermatol Surg. 1997;23:585-587.

12. Fernandez-Flores A. The elusive differential diagnosis of cutaneous apocrine adenocarcinoma vs. metastasis: the current role of clinical correlation. Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Panonica Adriat. 2009;18:141-142.

13. Hernandez JM, Copeland EM 3rd. Infiltrating apocrine adenocarcinoma with extramammary pagetoid spread. Am Surg. 2007;73:307-309.

14. Dhawan SS, Nanda VS, Grekin S, et al. Apocrine adenocarcinoma: case report and review of the literature. J Dermatol Surg Oncol. 1990;16:468-470.

15. Hügel H, Requena L. Ductal carcinoma arising from a syringocystadenoma papilliferum in a nevus sebaceus of Jadassohn. Am J Dermatopathol. 2003;25:490-493.

16. Stout AP, Cooley SG. Carcinoma of sweat glands. Cancer. 1951;4:521-536.

17. Obaidat NA, Alsaad KO, Ghazarian D. Skin adnexal neoplasms—part 2: an approach to tumours of cutaneous sweat glands [published online ahead of print August 1, 2006]. J Clin Pathol. 2007;60:145-159.

Various stains may be used in immunohistochemical analysis to aid in the diagnosis of AA.^1,5 Cytokeratin AE1/AE3, CAM5.2, epithelial membrane antigen, smooth muscle antigen, periodic acid–Schiff positivity with diastase resistance, and GCDFP-15 are useful in supporting the diagnosis of AA.^2,6,10,17 Cytokeratin AE1/AE3 and CAM5.2 stain various cytokeratins to confirm the epithelial origin of the tissue.² Epithelial membrane antigen is an antigen present on the apical surface of glandular epithelial cells that also has been used to identify epithelial cells in AA.² Additionally, smooth muscle actin may be used to detect the myoepithelial layer of cells surrounding the apocrine glands.¹⁷ The lack of a continuous layer surrounding the secretory cells suggests invasion into the adjacent tissue.^1,9,17 Periodic acid–Schiff staining with diastase resistance can be used to identify the mucin stored in the intracytoplasmic granules of apocrine cells and the lumen.³ Some stains such as GCDFP-15 may highlight cells of multiple origins (eg, apocrine and eccrine).¹⁰ However, there is the possibility that poorly differentiated AAs would fail to be identified as such even with well-established apocrine markers, which may explain the differential GCDFP-15 staining patterns in our patient’s skin and lymph node sections.^1,5 Therefore, there is not a single perfect set of immunohistological criteria to aid in the diagnosis of AA.^6,10,12 Fundamentally, diagnosis requires detection of primary apocrine differentiation with features such as invasion or spread to adjacent tissue to suggest malignancy and rule out an alternate primary malignant process.^1,2,9,10,17

Treatment and Prognosis

Primary treatment of AA consists of wide local excision with adjuvant options that include chemotherapy and radiation.^2,6 Due to the high rate of lymph node metastases at presentation (40%–50%), SLNB is recommended. A positive SLNB should be followed with complete axillary lymphadenectomy^4,6; however, there is a lack of consensus regarding the role of SLNB and lymph node dissection in detecting subclinical lymph node disease, which might improve local recurrence rate and prognosis.⁶ Similarly, research shows variable results with adjunctive treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.^6,9,13 Adjuvant treatment with chemotherapy or radiation therapy should be considered in cases with large tumor size; perineural, lymphatic, or vascular invasion; or when complete removal of the tumor is not possible due to location or size.^2,6 However, neither the role nor the efficacy of such treatments in AA is well established.^6,9,13

There is little information in the literature regarding the prognosis of AA. Although no specific or well-documented prognostic criteria exist, it is generally believed that patients with well-differentiated AA will have higher cure rates or lower rates of local recurrence and lymph node metastasis than patients with poorly differentiated neoplasms.^3,6,10 A few small case series with long-term follow-up of patients ranging from 2 to 10 years have shown that prognosis may be favorable for AA patients despite local recurrence and regional lymph node metastasis.^1,⁵

Conclusion

Primary AA is a rare cutaneous neoplasm that most commonly occurs in the axillae and the anogenital region. Apocrine adenocarcinoma presents with highly variable clinical and histopathological findings that make diagnosis a challenge. Clinicians should keep this entity in their differential diagnosis for patients who present with nodules arising in apocrine gland–bearing skin. Ultimately, histopathology is critical to diagnosis, and special stains are often required. To make the diagnosis, a tissue biopsy demonstrating apocrine differentiation and anaplastic features to suggest a malignant process are required. Additionally, a careful workup to rule out other diagnoses should be performed. Testing modalities that detect the presence of useful markers such as apocrine or epithelial origin should be used, and the presence of positive findings should support the diagnosis of AA. However, immunohistochemical findings should be used in the context of the patient’s clinical presentation and other available data. Treatment includes wide local excision, and lymphadenectomy is recommended in the setting of nodal spread. For aggressive tumors or metastases, excision may be followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy.