# Case Report: An in-depth look into apocrine carcinoma of the axilla - a rare case presentation

## TL;DR

This case report describes a rare instance of apocrine carcinoma in a 48-year-old man's axilla, highlighting the challenges in diagnosis and treatment due to the disease's rarity.

## Contribution

The paper presents a new clinical case of apocrine carcinoma, contributing to the limited literature on this rare condition.

## Key findings

- The patient was diagnosed with primary apocrine carcinoma after surgical excision of a right axillary mass.
- The case highlights the difficulty in distinguishing apocrine carcinoma from other similar conditions due to overlapping histological features.
- There are no established treatment standards for apocrine carcinoma due to its rarity and lack of clinical studies.

## Abstract

Apocrine carcinoma is an extremely rare malignant cutaneous neoplasm that usually arises in areas with a high density of apocrine glands.
Diagnosis can be challenging as tumours share histological and immunophenotypic characteristics with them. At first evaluation, the disease is often assumed to be benign. There have been approximately 100 reports of apocrine neoplasms in the literature.

A 48-year-old male presented with a right axillary mass which increased in size over a period of 2 years. The patient was reported to have had ayurvedic therapy, but his swelling remained unchanged. Axillary lymph nodes were palpable. USG axilla suggested a well-defined fungating solid isoechoic lesion. USG neck did not reveal any abnormality. The mass was surgically excised as a whole by removing the overlying skin with margins and lymph node excision. The patient was diagnosed with primary apocrine carcinoma after surgical excision. The differentials include adenocarcinoma of breast and prostate and apocrine adenoma. There are no established standards for the care of this form of carcinoma due to its rarity and the absence of clinical studies. A literature evaluation and further reporting will aid in developing diagnostic standards and the most efficient treatment options.