Eccrine porocarcinoma: epidemiologic and histopathologic characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Porocarcinoma is a rare tumor, representing 0.005% of all malignant epithelial neoplasms. The majority of publications are single case reports. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiologic and histopathologic characteristics of patients diagnosed with eccrine porocarcinoma. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out from January 1994 to December 2010. Cases with a histopathological diagnosis of eccrine porocarcinoma were included. The investigated variables were frequency, gender, age, time of evolution, localization, morphology, referral clinical diagnosis, and histopathology patterns. The information was analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: During this 17-year period, 33 cases diagnosed with eccrine porocarcinoma were detected. Female gender was predominant with 64% cases. The average age was 74 ± 12 years. The most frequent location was the head with 37% cases; the most common observed morphology was nodular, in 46%. The main referral diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma in 67% of cases. With regard to the histopathology characteristics, necrosis predominated in 64% cases, comedonecrosis in 45% cases, squamous differentiation in 42% cases, and melanocyte colonization in 21%. CONCLUSIONS: Our series presents some clinical and histopathology differences with previously reported, such as the most frequent localization in the head and the presence of melanocyte colonization.

Odontogenic cutaneous fistulas: clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of 75 cases.

BACKGROUND: Odontogenic cutaneous fistulas arise as a sequel of bacterial invasion of the dental pulp, become necrotic, and infection spreads into the periradicular area resulting in dissection and breakthrough to form sinus tracts that drain towards the skin. The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of patients diagnosed with odontogenic cutaneous fistulas. METHODS: A retrospective study was done between January 2001 and December 2011. Cases were included with a clinical and radiological diagnosis of odontogenic cutaneous fistulas. The variables investigated were frequency, gender, age, localization, morphology, time of evolution, and referral clinical diagnosis. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. RESULTS: During an 11-year period, 75 cases were found. Female gender predominated with 53% of the cases, and the mean age was 45 ± 26 years. The most frequent location was the mandible angle, in 36% of the cases, and the most common morphology was a nodule, in 52%. The mean time of evolution was 8 ± 11 months. The referral clinical diagnosis was odontogenic cutaneous fistulas in 51% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are similar to those previously published-the diagnosis was suspected in only half of the cases. We consider it important that odontogenic cutaneous fistulas be included among the differential diagnosis of cutaneous facial lesions to avoid delaying appropriate treatment.