Adenocarcinoma of eccrine sweat glands
W. S. Grizzard, E. Torezynski and W. C. Edwards
A man developed left-sided proptosis and orbital edema that progressed
during a three-week period. Ten years ago he had a skin lesion of the left
lower lid excised and the histopathologic diagnosis then was granular cell
myoblastoma. In 1972, the tumor recurred; a biopsy was again performed, but
no definite diagnosis was made despite multiple consultations from general
and ophthalmic pathologists. Biopsy specimens of the orbit, lids, and
preauricular lymph node taken in 1974 showed a poorly differentiated
mucus-secreting adenocarcinoma. A comparison of the three biopsy specimens
showed cells with similar characteristics. Medical evaluation failed to
reveal a primary tumor elsewhere in the body. The tumor most likely arose
locally from an eccrine sweat gland. This is the second reported case of an
adenocarcinoma of an eccrine sweat gland invading the orbit. The tumor,
usually considered radioresistant, was successfully treated with
radiotherapy, and the patient has remained free of tumor for 18 months.
