Approach Considerations

The literature on treatment of eccrine carcinomas is very sparse.

While surgery remains the treatment of choice, some cases of distant metastases have been treated with radiation therapy.^[5]

In one radiotherapy-resistant case of eccrine carcinoma, brachytherapy was used.^[23]

Data on the use of chemotherapy for eccrine carcinoma is sparse, and it has not yet proved to be successful for the few listed cases in the literature.^{[24, 25, 26]}

Surgical Care

The treatment of choice is surgical excision of the tumor with negative margins, either by radical surgical excision or Mohs micrographic surgery.^[27]As eccrine carcinomas tend to be locally infiltrating and have a propensity for perineural invasion, wide excision is recommended.^[27]However, while the clinical experience is limited, the use of Mohs micrographic surgery appears to decrease recurrence rates compared with surgical excision.^[20]

Consultations

Surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, and interventional radiologists may play roles in the treatment of patients with eccrine carcinoma.

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Le LP, Dias-Santagata D, Pawlak AC, Cosper AK, Nguyen AT, Selim MA, et al. Apocrine-eccrine carcinomas: molecular and immunohistochemical analyses. PLoS One. 2012. 7(10):e47290. [Medline]. [Full Text].
Penneys NS, Zlatkiss I. Immunohistochemical demonstration of ferritin in sweat gland and sweat gland neoplasms. J Cutan Pathol. 1990 Feb. 17(1):32-6. [Medline].
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Coan EB, Doan A, Allen C. Mucinous eccrine carcinoma: a rare case of recurrence with lacrimal gland extension. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 2012 Sep-Oct. 28 (5):e109-10. [Medline].
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Media Gallery

Eccrine porocarcinoma. Courtesy of DermNet New Zealand (http://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/eccrine-porocarcinoma/).
Eccrine porocarcinoma. Courtesy of DermNet New Zealand (http://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/eccrine-porocarcinoma/).
Eccrine carcinoma pathology. Basaloid cells invading the dermis. Courtesy of DermNet New Zealand (http://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/eccrine-carcinoma-pathology/).
Eccrine carcinoma pathology. Tubule and gland formation infiltrating the sclerotic dermis; eccrine differentiation can be seen at high power. Courtesy of DermNet New Zealand (http://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/eccrine-carcinoma-pathology/).
Eccrine carcinoma pathology. Tubule and gland formation infiltrating the sclerotic dermis; eccrine differentiation can be seen at high power. Courtesy of DermNet New Zealand (http://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/eccrine-carcinoma-pathology/).
Eccrine carcinoma pathology. Tubule and gland formation, along with clear cell change. Courtesy of DermNet New Zealand (http://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/eccrine-carcinoma-pathology/).

of 6

Author

Georgina Marie Ferzli, MD, MS Resident Physician, Department of Dermatology, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Aleksandra Lindgren Medical Assistant, Bay Area Cosmetic Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Amanda K Doyle, MD Dermatologist, Kline Dermatology

Amanda K Doyle, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Women's Dermatologic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Andrea M Hui, MD Dermatologist, Bay Area Cosmetic Dermatology; Mohs Surgeon, Advanced Skin Care and Dermatology Physicians, Inc, and Redwood Family Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Richard P Vinson, MD Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster 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, Texas Medical Association, Association of Military Dermatologists, Texas Dermatological Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD Professor and Chairman, Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Daniel Mark Siegel, MD, MS Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center

Daniel Mark Siegel, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Mohs Surgery, American Association for Physician Leadership, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, International Society for Dermatologic Surgery

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

R Stan Taylor, MD The JB Howell Professor in Melanoma Education and Detection, Departments of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, Director, Skin Surgery and Oncology Clinic, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

R Stan Taylor, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Mohs Surgery, American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Anthony Wong, MD, FAAD Consulting Staff, Department of Dermatology, SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn, St Catherine's of Sienna, and Long Island Skin Cancer and Dermatologic Surgery, PC

Anthony Wong, MD, FAAD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Mohs Surgery

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Darren Keith Mollick, MD Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

Mary Farley, MD Dermatologic Surgeon/Mohs Surgeon, Anne Arundel Surgery Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Aza Lefkowitz, MD Consulting Staff, Advanced Dermatology, PC

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.