Sweat gland carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation (SCAND) arising in the axilla: A case report highlighting diagnostic challenges and surgical management

TL;DR

A rare case of sweat gland carcinoma with neuroendocrine features in the axilla is reported, emphasizing the difficulty in diagnosis and the need for thorough surgical management.

Contribution

This case report adds to the limited literature on SCAND by highlighting diagnostic and surgical challenges in a real-world clinical setting.

Findings

SCAND was diagnosed after initial misdiagnosis as an epidermal cyst, requiring re-excision and lymph node dissection.

Immunohistochemistry confirmed neuroendocrine differentiation and hormone-related markers in tumor cells.

No recurrence or metastasis was observed at 12 months post-surgery, despite extensive lymph node involvement.

Abstract

Sweat gland carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation (SCAND) is a rare, newly recognized cutaneous adnexal tumor arising from sweat glands and characterized by neuroendocrine features. Given its rarity and resemblance to benign lesions, clinical diagnosis can be challenging.

A 73-year-old man presented with a 40-year history of intermittent discharge from a right axillary mass, which had initially been diagnosed as an epidermal cyst. Following lesion excision along the tumor margin at a local clinic, histopathological analysis revealed apocrine carcinoma, and the surgical margin could not be definitively confirmed to be negative. He was then referred to our department, where positron emission tomography-computed tomography demonstrated abnormal uptake in the right axillary lymph nodes, with a maximum standardized uptake value of 5.70. We performed wide local excision with a 1-cm margin, as well as a level Ⅱ axillary lymph node dissection. Histopathological evaluation showed tumor infiltration with nodular and trabecular pattern in the dermis and the subcutaneous tissue. Tumor cells contained eosinophilic cytoplasm and round-shaped nuclei with granular chromatin. 28 lymph nodes were resected, among which 19 showed metastatic involvement. Immunohistochemistry showed positivity for GCDFP-15, GATA3, ER and neuroendocrine differentiation markers. These findings were consistent with SCAND. The wound was closed primarily without the need for flap reconstruction. There has been no evidence of recurrence or metastasis at 12 months of postoperative follow-up.

This case highlights the potential for long-standing benign-appearing skin lesions to harbor rare malignant tumors such as SCAND. Accurate pathological diagnosis and increased clinical awareness among plastic surgeons are essential, and long-term surveillance is recommended owing to the possibility of delayed metastasis.

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