eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Malignant Neoplasms

Sebaceous Carcinoma: Follow-up

Author: James M Spencer, MD, Professor of Clinical Dermatology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York; Private Practice, Spencer Dermatology, St Petersburg, Florida
Coauthor(s): Amy Lynn Basile, DO, MPH, Sun Coast Hospital/Largo Medical Center, Largo, Florida
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Feb 19, 2009

Follow-up

Prognosis

  • Sebaceous gland carcinoma is an aggressive tumor, with a tendency for both local recurrence and distant metastasis.
  • Reported clinicopathological features associated with a poor prognosis include orbital invasion, upper and lower eyelid involvement, poor differentiation,53 lacrimal gland involvement,53 tumor diameter greater than 10 mm,54 pagetoid spread, and symptom duration greater than 6 months.15
  • Reported local recurrence rates range from 9-36%, with larger series reporting recurrence rates in the range of 30%.5 Local recurrence tends to occur within 5 years.
  • Metastasis occurs in 14-25% of patients.15 It first spreads to the draining lymph nodes and then to distant sites. Sites of distant metastasis include the liver, lungs, bones, and brain.26
  • The 5-year mortality rate for patients with metastatic disease is reportedly 50-67%.55

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • Misdiagnosis as a more common benign entity may cause delay in appropriate treatment. However, delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis is not uncommon with this clinically subtle tumor.
  • Failure to evaluate patients with a diagnosis of sebaceous carcinoma for Muir-Torre syndrome is a pitfall.
 
Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous Chief Editor, William D. James, MD, to the development and writing of this article.



More on Sebaceous Carcinoma

Overview: Sebaceous Carcinoma
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Sebaceous Carcinoma
Treatment & Medication: Sebaceous Carcinoma
Follow-up: Sebaceous Carcinoma
References
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Further Reading

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Keywords

sebaceous carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma, meibomian gland carcinoma, sebaceous cell carcinoma

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

James M Spencer, MD, Professor of Clinical Dermatology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York; Private Practice, Spencer Dermatology, St Petersburg, Florida
James M Spencer, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology, American Dermatological Association, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, and International Society for Dermatologic Surgery
Disclosure: Graceway Pharmaceutical Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Sanofi Aventis Honoraria Consulting; Medicis Grant/research funds Other

Coauthor(s)

Amy Lynn Basile, DO, MPH, Sun Coast Hospital/Largo Medical Center, Largo, Florida
Amy Lynn Basile, DO, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Medical Association, American Osteopathic Association, and American Osteopathic College of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Kelly M Cordoro, MD, Fellow and Clinical Instructor, Department of Pediatric Dermatology, University of California at San Francisco; Assistant Professor (On Educational Leave), Assistant Program Director for Resident Medical Education, Department of Dermatology, University of Virginia School of Medicine
Kelly M Cordoro, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Association of Professors of Dermatology, Dermatology Foundation, Medical Society of Virginia, National Psoriasis Foundation, Society for Pediatric Dermatology, and Women's Dermatologic Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Richard P Vinson, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Mountain View Dermatology, PA
Richard P Vinson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Texas Dermatological Society, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

John G Albertini, MD, Consulting Staff, Dermatologic Surgery, The Skin Surgery Center
John G Albertini, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Catherine Quirk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Brown University
Catherine Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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