What is Eccrine Carcinoma (Cancer of the Sweat Glands)?
Eccrine Carcinoma (EC) is a very rare type of cancer that starts from the eccrine sweat glands of our skin. You probably have never heard about it because it accounts for fewer than 0.01% of all skin cancers diagnosed. Sweat gland tumors vary and are usually broken down into four groups: eccrine, apocrine, mixed (eccrine and apocrine) and some that can’t be easily classified.
When these tumors are formed in the eccrine sweat glands, they can be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Benign tumors include poroma, hidradenoma, spiradenoma, cylindroma, syringometaplasia, syringoma, syringofibroadenoma, and chondroid syringoma. Malignant, or cancer-causing eccrine tumors can be any of the following: porocarcinoma, hidradenocarcinoma, malignant spiradenoma carcinoma, malignant cylindroma, syringoid eccrine carcinoma, microcystic adnexal carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, and ductal papillary adenocarcinoma. Some types of sweat gland tumors that are hard to classify include eccrine ductal carcinoma, basaloid eccrine carcinoma, clear cell eccrine carcinoma, and non-specified sweat gland carcinomas.
These malignant sweat gland tumors come in various forms and exhibit different behaviors biologically. One thing they have in common is that they are all locally aggressive and are prone to coming back. These eccrine carcinomas are usually divided into two types based on their behavior: low grade and high grade malignant. Identifying the specific type of eccrine carcinoma can sometimes be tricky because their appearance is similar to other common tumors and there is no standard way to recognize them using immune system markers.
What Causes Eccrine Carcinoma (Cancer of the Sweat Glands)?
Research hasn’t found a specific cause.
Risk Factors and Frequency for Eccrine Carcinoma (Cancer of the Sweat Glands)
Eccrine carcinoma is an incredibly rare type of skin cancer. It makes up less than 0.01% of all diagnosed skin cancers.
Signs and Symptoms of Eccrine Carcinoma (Cancer of the Sweat Glands)
Endothelial cell (EC) growth can appear as a colored lump or sore on the skin. It can show up anywhere on the body. Though, they are commonly found in the below parts:
- Lower limbs or legs (35% of cases)
- Head and neck (24% of cases)
- Upper limbs or arms (14% of cases)
Testing for Eccrine Carcinoma (Cancer of the Sweat Glands)
When doctors suspect someone might have eccrine carcinoma, a type of skin cancer, they usually recommend a skin biopsy. This is a type of test where a small sample of skin tissue is taken and analysed. During this analysis, doctors will look at the cells’ structure. Specifically, they’ll look at the patterns in which the cells are organized, how well they are differentiated (which essentially means how abnormal they look compared to healthy cells), and the appearance of certain parts of the cells such as the nuclei and nucleoli.
The exact appearance of the cells can vary depending on the specific type of eccrine carcinoma someone has. Different types include porocarcinomas, syringoid carcinoma, ductal carcinomas, adenoid cystic carcinomas, and mucinous carcinomas.
In some cases, additional tests using a method called immunohistochemistry (IHC) can be performed to support the diagnosis. This involves using special dyes that can attach to specific types of proteins in the cells. However, this particular additional test is not always consistent. Certain markers, or proteins, can suggest that someone has eccrine carcinoma. These include carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), cytokeratin 7 (CK-7), and pancytokeratins.
Treatment Options for Eccrine Carcinoma (Cancer of the Sweat Glands)
The best treatment for Endocrine Carcinoma (EC), a type of cancer, is extensive surgical removal where the aim is to get rid of all the cancerous tissue. When EC has spread to other parts of the body, chemotherapy and radiation therapy can be used.
It is important to remember that EC is a rare type of cancer. Because of this, there have not been any large-scale trials that compare different treatment methods. That’s why the medical community primarily relies on surgery as the preferred method of treatment.
What else can Eccrine Carcinoma (Cancer of the Sweat Glands) be?
Here are some of the most common types of skin cancer:
- Basal cell carcinoma (BCC): This is the most common skin cancer, making up about 80% of all skin cancer cases. BCC usually appears on skin that receives sun exposure. It often presents as a small, raised bump or growth. Doctors can use certain tests, such as the BerEP4, 34betaE12, MNF 116, p53, BCL2, and p63, to help confirm a diagnosis of BCC.
- Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC): This is the second most common skin cancer. Doctors grade SCC based on how different the cancer cells are from healthy cells and how much keratin, a protein, the cancer cells produce. SCC usually appears as a thin, red, scaly patch on the skin. Doctors use specific tests, like the 34betaE12, AE1/AE3, CK5/6, EMA, and p63, to confirm a diagnosis of SCC.
- Amelanotic melanoma: This is a form of melanoma, another type of skin cancer, that often appears as a white or red spot. The stage of amelanotic melanoma often depends on how thick the lesion is and how deeply it has invaded the skin.
Other non-cancerous skin conditions include:
- Seborrhoeic keratosis: This is a harmless skin condition that usually occurs in adults. It presents as a well-defined, gooey, pigmented lesion that is raised above the skin surface. The lesions are usually found to have a proliferation of small skin cells (keratinocytes) with no signs of abnormal changes.
- Verruca vulgaris: These are common warts.
But there are also other conditions that must be considered:
- Cutaneous lymphoma: This is a type of lymphoma — a cancer of the body’s immune system — that primarily occurs in the skin.
- Metastatic carcinoma: This refers to a situation in which cancer cells from other parts of the body, such as the breast, lung, or kidney, spread to the skin.
What to expect with Eccrine Carcinoma (Cancer of the Sweat Glands)
Metastatic disease, which is a term for cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, often leads to a poor prognosis, meaning the chances of recovery are low. Studies show that about 80% of people with metastatic disease do not survive, and only 9% of patients are still alive ten years after diagnosis.
Possible Complications When Diagnosed with Eccrine Carcinoma (Cancer of the Sweat Glands)
The complications of eccrine carcinoma, a type of skin cancer, can include it spreading to other parts of the body, known as metastases, and negative side effects that result from surgical treatment.
Complications:
- Metastases (Cancer spreading to other parts of the body)
- Negative side effects from surgery
Preventing Eccrine Carcinoma (Cancer of the Sweat Glands)
Before starting treatment, patients should be informed about what to expect after surgery and potential side effects. This information helps them understand the outcome of the procedure and any possible risks or complications that might occur during recovery. It’s important that patients have this knowledge so they can make informed decisions about their health and treatment plan.