Primary mucinous carcinoma of the skin

Definition

A rare tumour of eccrine glands.

Epidemiology

Primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of skin is more common in males than in females. Most cases occur in the elderly.

Clinical features

Most tumours occur on the face, particularly on the eyelids, cheeks and scalp.

Radiology

Macroscopic appearances

Histopathology

Immunohistochemistry

Ultrastructure

Differential diagnosis

• Mucinous adenocarcinoma metastatic from breast. Also occurs predominantly in the elderly and is an indolent malignancy. It is also positive for sialomucins, CEA, EMA, Human Milk Fat Globulins, GCDFP 15, S-100, oestrogen receptors and progesterone receptors.

• Mucinous adenocarcinoma metastatic from lung.

• Mucinous adenocarcinoma metastatic from colon.

Management

Prognosis

30% of cases show local recurrences and lymph node metastases occur in 10% of cases. Distal metastases are rare.

References

1 Hanby AM, McKee P, Jeffery M, et al. Primary mucinous carcinomas of the skin express TFF1, TFF3, estrogen receptor, and progesterone receptors. Am J Surg Pathol 1998; 22:1125-31

This page last revised 17.7.2006.

©SMUHT/PW Bishop