Efficacy and safety of lasers in treating syringomas: a review of the literature.

Syringomas are benign adnexal neoplasms that may induce psychological stress when they are large or disfiguring or present in delicate regions such as the periorbital area. Despite the availability of various lasers for syringomas, no consensus has been established on the optimal laser setting and side effects of these therapies. The current review aims at understanding the efficacy and safety of various laser therapies available for the treatment of syringomas. A literature search was carried out using PubMed and Ovid databases for articles published from Jan 2000 through Mar 2022. Screening the eligible articles yielded 27 studies, comprising clinical studies, case series, and case reports, which were included in this review. The CO2 laser is the most widely used ablative laser therapy but is usually associated with adverse events. Pinhole and multiple drilling methods using CO2 laser yielded excellent cosmetic results with minimal adverse effects. Fractional lasers reduced the downtime and complications compared to non-fractionated ones. Non-ablative fractional lasers could be advantageous in terms of easy operation, minimal side effects and moderate recovery period compared with ablative lasers. Large clinical trials are needed to generate strong evidence to guide clinicians in choosing the most appropriate laser therapy for syringoma treatment.

The role of postoperative radiotherapy in eccrine porocarcinoma: a multidisciplinary systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Eccrine porocarcinoma (EPC) is a malignant adnexal tumor accounting for about 0.005% of skin tumors. The standard treatment of EPC is the complete surgical excision of the primary lesion and of the clinically involved lymph nodes. There is limited evidence regarding the role of radiotherapy (RT) in managing EPC after surgery. Therefore, the aim of this multidisciplinary systematic review is to analyze the available evidence about postoperative RT in the curative treatment of EPC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search strategy was launched trough the main scientific databases including PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane. An additional manual search and a chain citation were performed about potentially relevant papers. The key words used for the search included "eccrine porocarcinoma", "porocarcinoma", "radiotherapy", "radiation therapy", "adjuvant radiotherapy" and "postoperative radiotherapy". RESULTS: A total of 104 publications were identified and 14 papers were included in the final analysis. The only articles found on adjuvant RT in EPC were case reports published between 1996 and 2019. There was a slight female prevalence (57% female/43% male) with a mean age of 65 years (range 37-85). Head-and-neck region was the most frequently involved anatomical site followed by legs. CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant radiotherapy after surgical removal of EPC could be considered in cases with positive or close margins and in cases with unfavorable histological features. In view of limited literature data and the rarity of EPC the best treatment sequence should always be discussed within the frame of a multidisciplinary setting. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: adjuvant radiotherapy after surgical removal of EPC could be considered in cases with positive or close margins and in cases with unfavorable histological features.

[Hidradenocarcinoma of the heel associated with inguinal metastases]. / Hidradénocarcinome du talon associé à des métastases inguinales.

BACKGROUND: Hidradenocarcinoma is a rare malignant tumour involving the sweat glands. It classically arises de novo, only rarely resulting from pre-existing hidradenoma. The literature contains few reports of lymph node metastasis in this tumour. We report a case of a patient with hidradenocarcinoma of the heel associated with inguinal node metastases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report the case of a 64-year-old patient with a history of chronic smoking, who in the last two years developed a painless nodule in his right heel, with no prior injury, and which gradually increased in size to become an ulcerated tumour. Physical examination revealed a rounded tumour mass, ulcerated in the centre, and associated with multiple inguinal adenopathies. Histological and immunohistochemical examination was suggestive of hidradenocarcinoma. The patient had undergone extensive local excision with inguinal lymphadenectomy. Histological examination showed infiltration of lymph nodes by the tumour with capsular rupture. Radiotherapy was subsequently given. The outcome was good without recurrence after 34 months of follow-up. DISCUSSION: Hidradenocarcinoma is a rare malignant tumour. Diagnosis is based on histological and immunohistochemical examination. However, hidradenocarcinoma may on occasion be difficult to differentiate from hidradenoma, a benign tumour, hence the interest of complete surgical resection with safety margins even in the absence of cytological malignancy. Local recurrences are common. The occurrence of lymph node metastasis during hidradenocarcinoma has been described only rarely in the literature. Such metastases usually occur after tumour resection. The specific features of our case are the rarity of lymph node metastases in hidradenocarcinoma coupled with the fact that these metastases were discovered upon diagnosis of the primary tumour.

Porocarcinoma scalp with high risk features treated with surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy: A case report and review of literature.

Eccrine porocarcinoma is a rare malignant sweat gland tumor arising from the intra dermal part of the gland and accounts for only 0.005% of all epithelial cutaneous tumors. Commonly involved site includes extremities and face. Scalp is a rare site for porocarcinoma with less than 20 reported cases so far. Wide local excision with clear margins remains the treatment of choice. Review of literature revealed a local recurrence rate of 37.5% and a nodal involvement risk of 20%. Porocarcinoma of the scalp is peculiar in that the primary tumor may be large at presentation, making surgery with adequate margins difficult. Adjuvant radiotherapy must be considered in a case to case basis due to the high local recurrence rates compared to other sites of porocarcinoma and should be given to all patients with close margins and extra capsular extension.

Role of Radiotherapy in Aggressive Digital Papillary Adenocarcinoma.

Aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma (ADPA) is a rare and often misdiagnosed malignant tumor of the sweat glands, most commonly encountered on the extremities. Due to the relatively high metastatic potential of the tumor, aggressive surgical treatment, including amputation, is generally recommended. We present a case of a 36-year-old male with an over 10-year history of a skin lesion on the right hand in the web space between the index and the middle finger. Histologically, the lesion revealed a malignant epithelioid neoplasm with features consistent with ADPA. The lesion was treated with 5-weeks preoperative radiation (total 5000 cGy) followed by surgical resection. There was no evidence of residual disease confirmed by pathological study of re-excision specimen as well as imaging studies. This is, to the best of knowledge, the first report of complete regression of an ADPA after radiotherapy.

Erbium YAG laser treatment of periorbital syringomas by using the multiple ovoid-shape ablation method.

INTRODUCTION: Syringomas are benign tumours that develop predominantly in the periorbital areas of women. As periorbital syringoma is adjacent to the appendages, Erbium YAG (Er:YAG) laser treatment should be an ideal tool for its precise ablation, although its use has not previously been reported. We retrospectively analysed our new ovoid-shape Er:YAG laser ablation method for the treatment of syringoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We developed an extirpation method in which multiple, 2- to 4-mm, egg-shaped ablation fields were created. This method was used to treat 49 patients, 35 of whom had predominantly accumulated syringomas, and 14 had disseminated syringomas. Treatment was repeated every 2 months. RESULTS: Our approach was successful in both disseminated- and accumulated-type syringoma as well as plaque-type syringoma, which is considered to be the most difficult to treat. After an average of 3.77 treatments, more than 75% of the syringoma in the treated area had disappeared in 43 of 49 patients. CONCLUSION: Our ovoid-shape ablation method gives good cosmetic results even in the most difficult type of syringoma.

Eccrine porocarcinoma with extensive cutaneous metastases.

BACKGROUND: Eccrine porocarcinoma (EPC) is an uncommon malignant neoplasm that originates in the intraepidermal portion of the eccrine sweat duct. Although porocarcinoma is a slow-growing tumor, up to 20% of cases can metastasize to regional lymph nodes, thus increasing mortality. METHODS: We describe the clinical and histopathological features and clinical course of three cases of extensive metastatic EPC diagnosed in our department over the last 10 years. RESULTS: All three patients were women aged 89-96 years. They had numerous skin tumors on the left leg that were histologically and immunohistochemically diagnosed as metastatic EPC. Only one patient had a history of primary porocarcinoma, which had been excised 6 years earlier. The remaining two patients had a previous lesion diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma. We treated the patients with palliative radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Only one patient is currently alive. CONCLUSIONS: The cases of cutaneous and regional metastatic EPC we present occurred in elderly women with major involvement of the left leg. The third case is noteworthy, as the patient presented a long latency period before metastases appeared. Difficulties in the clinical diagnosis--and occasionally histological diagnosis--of primary EPC could delay more aggressive treatment, although optimal treatment does not always guarantee a good prognosis.

[Multiple recurrent eccrine porocarcinoma with inguinal metastasis. A case report]. / Porocarcinoma ecrino multirrecidivante con metástasis inguinal. Caso clínico.

BACKGROUND: Eccrine porocarcinoma, first described in 1963, is a rare malignant lesion arising from the eccrine sweat glands. It is usually a primary tumour, or even more common, a malignant degeneration of an eccrine poroma. It usually affects older persons and is located most commonly on the lower extremities. About 20% of eccrine porocarcinoma will recur after treatment. The treatment is wide local excision of the primary lesion. This uncommon skin tumour has a locally aggressive behaviour and a high recurrence rate. CLINICAL CASE: An 82 year-old man presenting with multiple recurrent eccrine porocarcinoma with inguinal metastasis. The treatment was a radical excision and inguinal lymphadenectomy. There were no postoperative complications, but there was local recurrence after six months. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis and wide excision is the best way to achieve a good prognosis, due to the aggressiveness of this tumour.

Treatments for microcystic adnexal carcinoma--A review.

INTRODUCTION: Microcystic adnexal carcinoma (MAC) is a rare malignant cutaneous neoplasm presenting as a slow-growing, indurated nodule, papule or plaque. Clinically, the lesion can blend into the surrounding skin, obscuring borders and consequently delaying diagnosis histologically. Surgical and histologic techniques that emphasize examination of all margins may optimize management through early diagnosis and prevention of recurrences. OBJECTIVE: This review aims to assess the current surgical and histology techniques that result in lower rates of tumor recurrence and, consequently, better clinical outcomes. METHODS: A literature search of the PubMed database was conducted to identify studies examining wide local excision (WLE), Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS), radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy in the treatment of MAC. RESULTS: WLE had a high likelihood of positive margins and local recurrence. MMS was found to have the lowest recurrence rates. Definitive RT could be considered for elderly patients or those who are poor surgical candidates, as large surgical defects may be required to obtain free margins with either WLE or MMS. Chemotherapy was found to be ineffective. CONCLUSION: Complete margin evaluation with MMS permits complete tumor removal with subsequently low recurrence rate.

Primary apocrine sweat gland carcinomas of the axilla: a report of two cases and a review of the literature.

Primary apocrine sweat gland carcinoma (PASGC) is an extremely rare malignancy with a relatively favorable prognosis. PASGC is often suspected to be a benign disease during an initial clinical examination, which leads to inadequate initial treatment and extensive metastasis. Owing to the limited number of reports on PASGC, its diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines have not yet been established. The only known curative therapy for localized PASGC is wide local excision. In the present report, we describe two cases of PASGC with locally aggressive disease that arose in the axilla and review the literature about its clinicopathological features, diagnosis, and treatment. Based on the findings of the current report, we suggest that a sentinel lymph node biopsy and adjuvant anti-estrogen therapy should be included in the management of PASGC.

Treatment of periorbital syringoma by the pinhole method using a carbon dioxide laser in 29 Asian patients.

BACKGROUND: Pinhole method has been used to treat various types of scars and dermal tumors by making multiple small holes in target tissues of the deep dermis using an ablative 10,600-nm carbon dioxide (CO2) laser. OBJECTIVES: We prospectively investigated the efficacy and safety of using a CO2 laser to treat periorbital syringomas via the pinhole method. METHODS: A total of 29 patients with periorbital syringomas were treated with two sessions of CO2 laser treatment using the pinhole method at two-month intervals. Laser fluences were delivered under the following settings: pulse duration of 200 µs, frequency of 50 Hz, on time of 0.04, and an off time of 0.01. RESULTS: Among the 29 patients, 13 patients (44.8%) presented with small discrete papular syringomas, 10 (34.5%) had plaque-type lesions, and six (20.7%) had mixed lesions. Evaluation of the clinical results at 2 months after the second treatment session revealed marked clinical improvement (51-75%) in 10 of the 29 patients (34.5%), moderate clinical improvement (26-50%) in eight (27.6%), near-total improvement (≥ 75%) in seven (24.1%), and minimal improvement (0-25%) in four patients (13.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Our observations indicated that application of the pinhole method using a CO2 laser exerts positive therapeutic effects in Asian patients with periorbital syringomas.

Porocarcinoma ecrino: reporte de un caso / Eccrine porocarcinoma: a case report

Los tumores anexiales de la piel representan un grupo heterogéneo de entidades de baja frecuencia de presentación. Su origen es controvertido, quizás a partir de células madres pluripotenciales, aceptándose principalmente dos líneas embriológicas: pilosebáceo-apócrina y ecrina. Se los clasifica en cuatro grupos principales: tumores del folículo piloso, tumores sebáceos, tumores apócrinos y tumores ecrinos. Su distribución anatómica refleja áreas con mayor densidad de anexos cutáneos, presentándose en forma única o múltiple.

Skin adnexal tumors are represented as a heterogeneous group of entities of low frequency range. Its origin is controversial, perhaps from pluripotent stem cells, mainly from two embryological lines: pilosebaceous-apocrine and eccrine. They are classified as four main groups: tumors of the hair follicle, sebaceous tumors, apocrine tumors and eccrine tumors. Their anatomic distribution reflects areas with the highest density of cutaneous adnexal, arising in either single or multiple forms.

Malignant chondroid syringoma of the face with bone invasion.

Malignant chondroid syringoma is a very rare type of malignant sweat gland tumor. Diagnosis is based on pathologic features but is complicated by the low frequency of this tumor. The authors report a new case of malignant chondroid syringoma, initially misdiagnosed as basal cell carcinoma, that exhibited very aggressive local behavior and was located on the face, a rare site for this tumor. The authors describe its histopathologic appearance and highlight the importance of including adenoid cystic carcinoma in the differential diagnosis.