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Purpose: To describe the clinical features of a conjunctival apocrine hidrocystoma that developed 6 decades after a strabismus surgery and review existing literature on apocrine hidrocystomas of the conjunctiva and caruncle., Methods: Case report and review of literature on conjunctival apocrine hidrocystomas., Results: A 71-year-old man with a history of strabismus surgery as a child presented with a cystic lesion on the nasal conjunctiva and caruncle for 1 year. Excision of the lesion showed a unilocular cavity lined by a double layer of cells with the hallmark finding of apical decapitations, confirming a diagnosis of apocrine hidrocystoma. Seven additional cases of conjunctival and caruncular apocrine hidrocystomas were reviewed. All cases presented after 50 year of age. Most cases presented nasally or within the caruncle and had a pigmented appearance. No other reported cases had a history of trauma or surgery. All cases were treated with surgical excision without recurrence., Conclusions: History of strabismus surgery or conjunctival trauma may lead to ectopic deposition of apocrine glands that may contribute to the formation of an apocrine hidrocystoma., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding or conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Hidrocystoma is thought to be a benign retention cyst of sweat ductal units. The lesion is usually located in the periorbital skin; however, lesions with similar histopathological features are rarely observed in extra-facial sites. Herein, we present four cases of hidrocystoma-like tumours in extra-facial skin sites that harboured a RET or ALK rearrangement. This study features a 67-year-old female with a 10 mm-sized digital tumour (Case 1), a 62-year-old male with an 8 mm-sized clavicular tumour (Case 2), a 61-year-old male with a 19 mm-sized digital tumour (Case 3), and an 11-year-old female with a 10 mm-size lower leg tumour (Case 4) as well as five control cases (Cases 5-9) of classical periorbital hidrocystoma. In Cases 1-4, multicystic tumours comprising a two-cell layer of inner cuboidal ductoglandular (p63- and SOX10+/-) and outer flat myoepithelial (p63+ and SOX10+) cells were observed. The inner ductoglandular tumour cells exhibited micropapillary projections and Roman bridging structures. No apparent atypical cells were observed. NCOA4::RET in Cases 1 and 3, CCDC6::RET in Case 2, and SLC12A2::ALK in Case 4 were revealed by next-generation sequencing or Sanger sequencing. In contrast, control cases of classical hidrocystoma (Cases 5-9) did not show intracystic proliferation, abundant cytoplasm, ALK immunoreactivity, or NCOA4::RET detection in the tumour cells. RET/ALK-rearranged hidrocystoma-like tumours are tumour entities that can be distinguished from classical hidrocystoma. This RET/ALK-rearranged neoplasm is benign and is frequently observed in the digits. Future studies will establish the concept, detailed clinicopathological characteristics, and genetic variations of hidrocystoma-like tumours., (Copyright © 2024 Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Adnexal neoplasms of the eyelid encompass a wide variety of benign and malignant tumors of sebaceous, follicular, and sweat gland origin. Due to the specialized structures of the eyelid, these neoplasms present differently when compared with those of other locations. Although most dermatologists and ophthalmologists are familiar with the commonly reported adnexal tumors of the eyelid, such as hidrocystoma, pilomatrixoma, and sebaceous carcinoma, many other adnexal neoplasms have been reported at this unique anatomic site. Accurate and timely identification of these neoplasms is essential, as alterations of eyelid anatomy and function can have a negative impact on eye health, vision, and quality of life. We review the clinical and histopathologic features of common and rare eyelid adnexal neoplasms and discuss proposed treatment options., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Abstract: Apocrine hidrocystomas are benign, cystic neoplastic lesions resulting from the apocrine secretory component of the sweat gland. They most commonly occur on the head and neck, with predilection to the periorbital area. Less frequent sites include the axilla, nipple, external auditory canal, foreskin, conjunctiva, lower lip, and fingers, among others. The authors report a unique case of a nail bed hidrocystoma in a 55-year-old woman, a site not previously described., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: We report the clinical features and the management of two cases of orbital hidrocystoma in the setting of an enlarging orbital mass., Cases Description: A 48-year-old man presented with a mass in the right upper medial orbital quadrant, firmly attached to the supraorbital incisure. A 70-year-old man had a well demarcated lesion in the upper lateral orbital quadrant adherent to the lacrimal gland. There was no history of previous orbital trauma. In both cases histopathology confirmed a diagnosis of apocrine hidrocystoma. Following surgery, the first patient complained of mild hypoesthesia in the territory of the supraorbital nerve that resolved spontaneously within 3 weeks. Surgery was uneventful in the other patient. No recurrence was seen during the follow up., Conclusions: Apocrine hidrocystomas have been rarely described in the orbit, but should be considered in the differential diagnosis of orbital cystic masses. Recurrence is rare following complete surgical excision., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Cutaneous cystic lesions (n = 35) were examined with optical coherence tomography. Cysts were visible as a hyporeflective roundish area with a clear margin; in some cases, the epidermis was thinned. Epidermal cysts, trichilemmal cysts, and hidrocystomas had a linear margin representing the epithelium of the cyst, whereas mucoid pseudocysts showed no linear margin. Trichilemmal and epidermal cysts presented with hyperreflective content that corresponds to keratin. By visualizing the margin and the content of the cyst, it was possible to differentiate between different types of cysts., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Apocrine cystadenoma is a rare, benign adenomatous cystic neoplasm, the pathogenesis of which is not fully understood. We sought to characterize the clinical, dermatoscopic, and histopathologic features of apocrine cystadenoma and its relationship to hidrocystoma., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed cases of apocrine cystadenoma and hidrocystoma retrieved from the dermatopathology laboratory information system., Results: Of the 350 cases apocrine cystic lesions, 13 cases of apocrine cystadenomas met the inclusion criteria. The age ranged from 20 to 84 years with an average of 64 years. They were long-standing (duration 3-15 years), slow-growing, large tumors usually found on the scalp. Dermatoscopy accentuated translucent light to dark blue color and prominent vessels that were present more at the periphery. All lesions were multilocular with columnar to cuboidal lining and decapitation secretion. A large portion of the lesion consisted of a simple nonproliferative epithelial lining, identical to that observed in apocrine hidrocystomas, while the proliferative adenomatous component made up a smaller portion with two patterns: (1) tubular proliferation, which either protruded into the cystic cavity or expanded outward peripherally, or (2) papillary projections, which were multiple layers thick with fibrovascular core, sometimes accompanied by tubular proliferation. Immunohistochemical stains showed strong staining for p40 and a sparse number of cells stained for Ki-67 and p53., Conclusions: The long duration of the lesion and the large areas of simple apocrine epithelial lining suggest that apocrine cystadenomas arise from long-standing apocrine hidrocystomas. However, the retrospective nature of the study from a single institution is a limitation., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Apocrine hidrocystoma is a cystic tumor originating from apocrine sweat glands. It is predominantly located in the eyelid margins. Here, we report a case of apocrine hidrocystoma of the parotid gland in a 19-year-old man who was referred to our outpatient clinic with a 5-year history of a gradual swelling in the left parotid region. The patient underwent left superficial parotidectomy. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of apocrine hidrocystoma. The case is original by the tumor's location: to the best of our knowledge, this could be the first case in English and French literature reporting an apocrine hidrocystoma affecting the parotid gland. The purpose of this article is to report our case and discuss its clinical and anatomopathological features as well as its differential diagnoses., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

An 83-year-old woman experienced the slow enlargement of a right lower eyelid mass. Histopathologic examination of the excised tissue showed a mucin-filled cystic tumor emanating from an apocrine bilayer that displayed bleb-like apocrine decapitation secretion. The outer flattened myoepithelial layer of the bilayer reacted with immunohistochemical stains for smooth muscle actin and calponin. In foci, the tumor exhibited a cribriform architecture with small pockets of mucin. Tumor cells were reactive for cytokeratin 7, Gross Cystic Disease Fluid Protein 15 (BRST-2), estrogen and progesterone receptors, androgen receptors, mammaglobin, epithelial membrane antigen, and GATA3. Ki67 showed a very low proliferation fraction. The lesion exemplifies the fourth instance of an eyelid apocrine cystadenoma in the literature., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inc.)

A small ruptured cyst was excised from the left inner canthus of a 68-year-old woman. Histopathology displayed a cyst lined by a double layer of cuboidal epithelium and filled with amorphous material. The lining cells were strongly positive for cytokeratins 5/6 and 14, with weak reactivity with cytokeratin 7. These findings were identical to those in a single previous report of an eccrine cyst of the eyelid, making this the second example of a bona fide eccrine hidrocystoma of the eyelid., Competing Interests: The authors have no financial or conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inc.)

Abstract: Mucinous metaplasia (goblet cell type) is exceptionally rare in the skin. This is the second case of apocrine papillary hidrocystoma with mucinous metaplasia (goblet cell type) and a review of the literature exploring the significance and frequency of mucinous metaplasia with goblet cells in nongenital skin. The patient is an elderly man who presented with a blue-pigmented nodule on the scalp that was clinically suggestive of an atypical nevus. Histologically, the lesion was composed of a simple cyst of cuboidal cells with decapitation secretion and mucinous metaplasia with goblet cells. Papillary formation was identified in the cysts. Most cases of cutaneous mucinous metaplasia have been reported on genital skin, usually after chronic inflammation of the area. This type of mucinous metaplasia is categorized as benign mucinous metaplasia of the genitalia (BMM) and is believed to be unrelated to apocrine glands owing to the different histologic features and absence of apocrine differentiation by immunohistochemistry. Mucinous metaplasia (goblet cell type) has been previously reported in benign adnexal tumors (eccrine acrospiroma/hidroadenoma, mixed tumor, and syringocystadenoma papilliferum) and in malignant tumors (apocrine hidradenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma). To date, mucinous metaplasia has not been identified in the histologically normal apocrine glands., Competing Interests: This manuscript has not been published previously and is not currently under review for publication elsewhere. There are no conflicts of interest to disclose at the time of writing. Please contact us with any questions or concerns, and thank you for your consideration., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Abstract: Moll gland is a modified tubular-shaped apocrine sweat gland, which is located on the margin of the eyelid. Moll glands are also known as ciliary glands. The function of these glands was not well known for a long time. However, based on the different studies, it was proved that Moll glands are active from birth and have local immunologic function producing immunoglobulin A. We present a case of Moll adenocarcinoma, a type of apocrine carcinoma, arising from the right upper eyelid of a 57-year-old man. Although Moll gland cysts are frequently seen, this type of adnexal malignancy is extremely uncommon. These tumors can have variable presentation and behavior from less invasive forms to highly malignant metastatic recurrent lesions., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Apocrine hidrocystomas are benign cystic tumors derived from apocrine sweat glands; they are most commonly located in the skin of the head and neck regions. Ophthalmic occurrences typically appear at the lash line and canthi of the eyelid, although rare instances have been described in the conjunctiva, caruncle, and orbit. The authors illustrate an exceptional instance of a mobile episcleral cyst in a 12-year-old girl that developed about 2 years following strabismus surgery. The cyst was located anterior to the insertion of the left medial rectus and was excised in response to the patient's complaints of irritation. Histopathology of the excised specimen displayed an empty cyst lined by a double layer of cuboidal epithelium with the inner layer exhibiting apical decapitation secretion. Confirmatory immunohistochemistry demonstrated reactivity of both layers with CK7 and the outer myoepithelial layer with D2-40. Postoperative and traumatic cysts formed after interruption of the bulbar conjunctiva are usually conjunctival cysts lined by stratified squamous nonkeratinizing epithelium., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inc.)

Apocrine hidrocystomas are benign cystic tumors resulting from apocrine sweat glands' proliferation. They typically present as solitary, slow-growing nodules at the head and neck, especially in the periorbital cutaneous region. We present a case of periorbital apocrine hidrocystoma in a 22-year-old woman that was treated as chalazion previously. Besides the hallmark histopathological findings of apocrine hidrocystoma, IgG4 plasma cell infiltration of the cystic wall was also found. The ratio of IgG4-to-IgG-positive plasma cells was high, whereas serum IgG4 was within the standard limit. This is, to date, the only probable IgG4-related ophthalmic disease associated with apocrine hidrocystoma.

Apocrine hidrocystoma (AH) is a benign cystic proliferation of apocrine sweat glands that classically presents as a slow-growing nodule on the face, especially in the periorbital region. Histopathological evaluation is required to definitively diagnose an apocrine hidrocystoma. Previous studies have described apocrine hidrocystomas in unusual locations. However, the authors have identified only two reported cases of apocrine hidrocystoma in the postauricular region. We present a third case of a postauricular hidrocystoma in a 26-year-old woman, as well as a brief review of the dermoscopic findings of apocrine hidrocystomas in the existing literature.

Apocrine hidrocystoma is a benign, cystic proliferation of the apocrine sweat gland that may present commonly on sun-exposed areas of the head and neck. However, given its location and features, apocrine hidrocystomas may often be confused with malignant tumors such as basal cell carcinomas or primary cutaneous mucinous carcinomas. Herein, we present an unusual case of an apocrine hidrocystoma presenting in the postauricular region and highlight the importance of histopathological examination of cystic tumors on the periauricular area.

Hidrocystomas are benign cysts of sweat duct epithelium that can present as single or multiple lesions, with or without pigmentation. The size is typically 1-3mm in diameter. Although hidrocystomas commonly occur in most parts of the head and neck region, occurrence on the scalp is rare. Herein, we present a 29-year-old woman with a giant pigmented apocrine hidrocystoma of the scalp, which, to our knowledge, represents the largest of its kind reported to date.

Case: A 26-year-old woman developed a painful enlarging mass in her left leg over the course of 4 years. Marginal resection and local adjuvant therapy was undertaken, and pathology confirmed the mass to be an apocrine hidrocystoma., Conclusion: Giant apocrine hidrocystomas with osseous involvement outside of the head and neck are extremely rare. Although these tumors have a low recurrence rate, this case presents a single giant apocrine hidrocystoma that recurred and was successfully treated.

Background: Apocrine hidrocystomas are benign cystic tumors that develop from apocrine gland proliferation. In most cases, they are translucent solitary lesions of the face, generally found in the periorbital region, on the scalp or on the neck. More rarely, apocrine hidrocystomas may be multiple and appear on the ears, trunk, shoulders and genital area. They generally appear in adulthood, with only a few pediatric cases being reported, of which three in the genital area, with a solitary case of multiple hidrocystomas of the scrotum, although no cases of spontaneous involution of hidrocystomas have previously been reported., Patients and Methods: Two boys aged 4 and 6 months were seen in consultation for small sub-millimeter size, subcutaneous, black lesions on the scrotum that appeared in the weeks following birth. Histological examination of these lesions resulted in a diagnosis of apocrine hidrocystoma. The children were seen again a few weeks later and the skin lesions had totally disappeared. We report two cases of multiple apocrine hidrocystomas on the scrotum with spontaneous involution diagnosed in a 4- and a 6-month-old boy., Discussion: Apocrine hidrocystomas are rare benign adnexal tumors that develop from apocrine sweat glands. They are considered as cystic proliferations of the apocrine glands rather than simple retention cysts. The main differential diagnosis of the rare cases of multiple apocrine hidrocystomas are eccrine hidrocystomas. The treatment of such lesions is based on surgical excision if they are isolated, daily application of topical atropine 1%, or CO 2 laser for multiple apocrine hidrocystomas., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.

Background: Serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels are often elevated in patients with malignant diseases. However, the etiology of elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels may be extremely difficult to determine considering that this finding may occasionally occur in patients with benign diseases. Apocrine hidrocystomas, which are typically small and found on the face, are benign cystic lesions of apocrine sweat glands., Case Presentation: A 58-year-old Japanese man was referred to us because of high serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels (15.9 ng/mL) found incidentally during a routine medical checkup. A physical examination revealed a hemispherical mass approximately 5 cm in diameter on his left thigh. Magnetic resonance imaging of the region showed a multilocular cystic mass with clear margins and a smooth surface, suggesting a cystic tumor. He underwent local mass resection. Pathological examination of the resected mass revealed an apocrine hidrocystoma with luminal cells, which tested immunohistochemically positive for carcinoembryonic antigen. Postoperatively, serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels returned to normal. This report is the first to describe an apocrine hidrocystoma associated with high serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels., Conclusions: An apocrine hidrocystoma can cause elevation of serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels. Despite its rarity, apocrine hidrocystoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of conditions causing high serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels. In addition, skin diseases deserve more careful attention for patients with high serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels.

Apocrine hidrocystoma is a benign, cystic lesion often presenting in the periorbital region. Apocrine adenocarcinoma is the rare, malignant counterpart occurring mainly in the axilla and anogenital region. There is a paucity of literature on both entities and co-occurrence has been reported in only 5 cases. We present the case of a 48-year-old man with a history of total body irradiation for chronic myelocytic leukemia, diabetes mellitus, and obesity who presented with a calf mass of two years' duration. Epidermal inclusion cyst was presumed and excisional biopsy was carried out. Pathologic analysis revealed apocrine adenocarcinoma in the setting of a precursor apocrine hidrocystoma. Our patient's unique altered immunity and the direct effects of irradiation on the local microenvironment may have resulted in his rare presentation of co-occurrence of apocrine adenocarcinoma within an existing apocrine hidrocystoma. To our knowledge, our patient is the first reported patient with this presentation in the lower extremity.

Eccrine hidrocystoma is a benign cystic tumor. Such benign cystic lesions may be a cosmetic concern, or when large, can cause eyelid malpositions. We report a patient with a peri-punctal hidrocystoma of the eyelid.

Apocrine hidrocystomas are mostly found on the cheeks and eyelids but also on the scalp and neck. The age distribution is from 30 to 70 years old. We report a case of an apocrine hidrocystoma on the genitalia of a 9-year-old girl., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

A 53-year-old man presented with smooth-domed, variegated cysts (polycystic disease) of all 4 eyelids, worse on the left side. Some of the cysts were clear, while others were creamy-white colored. In addition, multiple, very fine vesicopapules were noted along the eyelid margins. Histopathologic examination revealed a trichilemmal cyst, several pure apocrine hidrocystomas displaying multiple chambers, a hybrid cyst, and many small eccrine cysts of the deep dermis. The apocrine lesions, including the small ones at the eyelid margins, predominated. Smooth muscle actin sometimes positively stained outer myoepithelial cells in some of the apocrine cysts, which helped to distinguish them from eccrine cysts. Most noteworthy was the fact that the patient had been diagnosed with a prolactinoma 20 years earlier. There is only 1 previous report of multiple apocrine cysts and an antecedent prolactinoma in the dermatologic literature. This syndrome should be separated from that of Schöpf-Schulz-Passarge, which manifests multiple small eyelid apocrine cysts and other ectodermal dysplasias without any association with neoplasia, and from that of focal dermal hypoplasia (Goltz-Gorlin) syndrome with apocrine cysts but again without neoplasia.

Apocrine hidrocystoma (AHC) is a benign cystic lesion arising from apocrine glands and frequently presents as a blue hae with a whitish gloss. It has been reported that the amount of lipofuscin and the degree of its oxidation determines the pigmentation of AHC. However, little is known about the correlation between clinical color and lipofuscin granules. In this study, we histopathologically investigated three cases of AHC and statistically analyzed the quantitative correlation between the clinical color tone and the amount of cytoplasmic lipofuscin deposits. The color tone was quantified as the mean gray value using Image J software. Statistical analysis showed a negative correlative tendency (P = 0.09) between the color tone and the amount of lipofuscin. Our study suggests that the color tone of AHC is associated with the amount of lipofuscin., (© 2017 Japanese Dermatological Association.)

Hidrocystomas are benign cysts that typically present as translucent, bluish dermal nodules on the face and are rarely > 1 cm in size. They are classically categorized as eccrine or apocrine based on histologic features. We present a rare case of a giant apocrine hidrocystoma of the trunk, demonstrating that, although a rare variant, apocrine hidrocystomas can present both off the head and neck, and can be significantly larger in size than previously reported.

Polarizable calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals have been well documented in breast biopsies, generally associated with benign apocrine metaplasia. In contrast, polarizable crystals are only rarely reported in skin adnexal neoplasms. We report 3 different cases of sweat gland tumors with polarizable crystals morphologically suggestive of CaOx: 1 apocrine hidrocystoma and 2 tubular apocrine adenomas. The histologic features were examined in 3 cases. Clinical presentation summary included 2 males and 1 female, ages 53 to 74 years, with lesions located on the left cheek, inferior vertex scalp and the left eyebrow. All 3 cases showed polarizable, geometric, plate-like and fractured, colorless crystals within the lumens of the neoplasm. Of note, these crystals were seen only on the toluidine blue-stained section of Case #1, but were not present on the corresponding permanent section. We hypothesize that polarizable crystals may be present in sweat gland neoplasms more often than previously documented, but that they may often dissolve with routine processing, accounting for their rare visibility. We highlight this rare finding, and suggest that it may be underreported. We only noted this finding in benign apocrine tumors; further investigation would be necessary to determine whether these crystals are also seen in other cutaneous adnexal neoplasms., (© 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: Hydrocystomas (HCs) are rare, benign, skin adnexal cystic tumors that may be either eccrine or apocrine., Background Data: Apocrine-HCs are cystic lesions that arise from the apocrine secretory coil, whereas eccrine-HCs are retention cysts of the eccrine duct. The commonest site is around the eyes, on the ears, scalp, chest, shoulders, or feet; HCs of the oral cavity are very rare., Methods: The case is reported of a 36-year-old man with a nodular lesion that was 7 × 5 mm in size on the labial commissure. The lesion was treated in direct contact with a diode laser that was 980 nm in continuous wave mode, with a 320 μm fiber at 1.8-2.0 W of power., Results: Complete healing occurred within 15 days. There were no adverse effects. The patient was carefully followed up, and there has been no recurrence. Histopathologically, the lesion was a multilocular cyst lined with a single-, and in some areas a double-layered epithelium with eosinophilic cytoplasm. Immunohistochemically, the secretory epithelium was positive for S-100 protein and negative for cytokeratin 5/6., Conclusions: The histopathological and immunohistochemically diagnosis was of eccrine HC. The report stresses differential diagnosis versus cystic lesions of the labial commisure.

Multiple eccrine hidrocystomas are benign cystic skin lesions which originate from the sweat gland ducts and typically affect women's midfacial area. Sweating may lead to an increase in size of the translucent papules. In some cases hidrocystomas are associated with other diseases such as Parkinson's disease. Treatment options include laser, topical and systemic anticholinergic drugs (glycopyrrolate, clonidine, atropine, and oxybutynin), whereby therapeutic success is limited in most cases.

Apocrine hidrocystoma (AH) is an uncommon benign cystic tumor that is rarely located in the genitalia. We present the case of a 52-year-old uncircumcised man who presented an AH on his foreskin. The lesion was non-proliferative. Including the present report, only 10 cases of penile AH have been published to date. Most patients are adult (mean age 39.2 years, range 25-56 years) and only one case in one child and another case in one adolescent have been reported. The lesion involves more commonly the foreskin followed by the shaft. The average maximum diameter was 1.6 cm (range 0.3-3 cm). The majority (70%) of tumors are unilocular. The main differential diagnosis of AH includes eccrine hidrocystoma, epidermal inclusion cyst and male median raphe cyst. Complete excision of the lesion is curative.

Background: Apocrine hidrocystomas, also known as apocrine cystadenomas, are bening cystic tumours derived from the secretory portion of apocrine sweat glands., Clinical Case: A 78-year old female was referred to our division for assesment an asymptomatic translucent, well-defined cystic lesion located on the upper helix. The histological features were consistent with apocrine hidrocystoma coexisting with gouty tophi., Conclusions: We report the second case of apocrine hydrocystoma located in the pinna, outside of ear canal and the first case of its association with gouty tophi described. It is difficult to know which lesion was first established and if the tophi may lead to ductal obstruction and subsequent cystic retention.

Adenomyoepithelioma (AME) is a biphasic neoplasm of epithelial and myoepithelial cells. It is most commonly found in the breast, although rare cases have been reported from the lung, salivary glands, and skin. There are 5 well-documented cases of cutaneous AME in the literature. We report a new case of cutaneous AME. Our case was commingled with apocrine hidrocystoma. This is the first report of cutaneous AME in a male patient and the first to describe SOX10 immunostaining in cutaneous AME. We review the literature on cutaneous AME and note the greater than chance colocalization with other adnexal tumors. We speculate that AME may represent localized overgrowth of myoepithelial cells within a pre-existent sweat gland tumor. Histopathologists should be aware of the potential of SOX10-positive myoepithelial neoplasms to mimic nodular melanocytic proliferations.

The use of immunohistochemical markers for myoepithelial cells (MEC) is a useful tool in the distinction of benign from malignant epithelial neoplasms. Although their use in breast tumors is well recognized, little is known concerning its application in comparable cutaneous lesions. Using benign cutaneous cystic apocrine lesions as a study model, the aim of this study was to compare 5 immunohistochemical markers [calponin, p63, smooth muscle actin (SMA), cytokeratin 14, and CD10] in their effectiveness to highlight MEC. Cases of apocrine hidrocystoma and cystadenoma (n = 44) were reviewed with a particular emphasis on proliferative features and apocrine change. The MEC staining pattern and the intensity and distribution scores in proliferative (n = 29) and nonproliferative (n = 15) lesions were assessed, and the differences between the 2 groups were statistically analyzed using Fisher exact test. Calponin and SMA stained MEC in the most consistent manner. Being a nuclear stain, p63 was easy to interpret but typically showed discontinuous staining. Cytokeratin 14 not only effectively highlighted MEC but also stained some luminal epithelial cells in an unpredictable manner. Because of prominent background dermal fibroblast staining, CD10 was often difficult to interpret. Only SMA and p63 showed a statistically significant difference in MEC staining intensity scores between the proliferative and nonproliferative groups. Our results show that immunohistological staining for MEC in benign cystic apocrine lesions of the skin is variable. The authors recommend that a panel of markers that includes calponin and p63 be used and highlight the need for awareness of specific caveats associated with individual markers.

Background: Hidrocystomas are benign tumors of apocrine or eccrine epithelium. They most commonly occur on the head and neck, especially periorbitally. Albeit rare, these adnexal tumors may present as pigmented lesions., Purpose: To describe a patient with a pigmented eccrine hidrocystoma of his nose and to review the features of other individuals with pigmented hidrocystoma of the nasal epithelium., Material and Methods: PubMed was used to search the follow terms: hidrocystoma and pigmented. All papers were reviewed and relevant manuscripts, along with their reference citations were evaluated., Results: A 52-year-old man who presented with a pigmented eccrine hidrocystoma on his nasal bridge was described. The features of three previously described patients with pigmented hidrocystoma of the nose were evaluated. The tumors presented as single or multiple, less than 2mm, blue papules. Our patient's tumor would intermittently bleed, which prompted consideration of a possible basal cell carcinoma. Biopsy established the diagnosis showing a cystic lesion lined by eccrine epithelium with pigmented secretion within the cyst's lumen. The cyst content stained positive with Fontana-Masson stain. Our patient's excisional biopsy resulted in excellent cosmetic appearance and complete removal of the benign adnexal tumor., Conclusion: Pigmented hidrocystomas may be mistaken for other skin lesions, such as a pigmented basal cell carcinoma and melanoma. A biopsy readily establishes the diagnosis. We respectfully suggest that a hidrocystoma located on the nose that is pigmented be referred to as a PHONE: pigmented hidrocystoma of the nasal epithelium.

Digital papillary carcinoma (DPC) is a rare, underreported, and often misdiagnosed malignant tumor of the sweat glands. It is often located on the digits and toes and most commonly occurs in male individuals in their fifties to seventies. Because of lack of pain, slow growth, and an inconspicuous appearance, clinical diagnosis is often missed or delayed. In contrast, apocrine hidrocystoma (AH) is a cystic adenoma that arises from the apocrine secretory coil, and it is extremely rare for AHs to develop on the digits. We report 7 cases of DPC, including clinical course, histopathologic and immunohistochemical findings, and therapeutic approach in which the initial histopathologic diagnosis in all cases was AH or cystadenoma. However, complete excision of the neoplasms led to a final diagnosis of DPC. After an adequate treatment, no recurrence or metastasis was found in any of the cases described. All the cases studied showed similar histopathologic and immunohistochemical findings. The initial incisional biopsy showed large unilocular or multilocular cystic spaces situated within the dermis, lined by a double layer of epithelial cells with tiny papillary structures. No cellular atypia, necrosis, or pleomorphism was observed. However, complete excision revealed neoplastic lesions involving the dermis and/or subcutis, with an infiltrative pattern and papillary projections into luminal spaces. Immunoperoxidase studies showed positivity for CK7, S-100 protein, CEA, p63, smooth muscle actin, and calponin. DPC is a rare but life-threatening malignancy, therefore it is important to be able to identify such a lesion both clinically and histopathologically, treat it, and monitor the patient for the tumor's potential recurrence and metastasis. Pathologists and dermatopathologists should be aware that a histopathologic diagnosis of AH or cystadenoma on the fingers and toes should be established with caution, because probably those lesions represent the superficial and cystic component of an underlying DPC, and a wider excision should be performed.