Sclerosing Carcinomas of Sweat Ducts (Microcystic Adnexal Carcinoma)

Abstract

Goldstein et al,¹ in 1982, described six neoplasms that they called "microcystic adnexal carcinoma" (MAC). The authors believed that the tumors exhibited both follicular and sweat gland differentiation but observed that the terms malignant syringoma or sweat gland carcinoma with syringomatous features might be preferred by some pathologists. The clinical and pathologic features of 20 patients with similar neoplasms have recently been reported under the term sclerosing sweat duct (syringoma-tous) carcinoma (SSDC).² The contributions of Lupton and McMarlin³ and Nickoloff and co-workers⁴ in this issue of the Archives focus the attention of dermatologists on this important neoplastic entity. The literature now contains descriptions of at least 36 patients whose neoplasms probably or definitely belong in the category under consideration.^1-14 The patients ranged in age from the second to the eighth decades. Male and female patients were affected equally