title: Apocrine adenocarcinoma of the eyelid with aggressive biological behavior: report of a case.
abstract: A case of apocrine adenocarcinoma of the eyelid that showed unusually aggressive biological behavior is reported. The patient was a 57-year-old man who complained of discomfort and excessive lacrimation of the left eye. A subcutaneous tumor measuring 2.5 cm was found at the medial canthus of the upper eyelid, and a plica-like subconjunctival spread was noted in the lacrimal caruncle. Invasion into the extraocular muscles and metastasis to the cervical lymph nodes and bone were already present at the time of initial presentation. Histopathologically, the tumor showed features of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, and polygonal tumor cells had large, hyperchromatic nuclei with prominent nucleoli and abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. The formation of ductal structures was found occasionally. The differentiation of the tumor cells towards the apocrine gland was corroborated by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies GCDFP-15 and B72.3. The histogenesis and pathological differential diagnosis are discussed briefly, and the tumor was considered to have originated in the Moll's gland in the eyelid. This case emphasizes that apocrine adenocarcinomas of the ocular region have the potential for aggressive biological behavior, including distant metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Osaka Red Cross Hospital, Osaka, Japan. shintaku@orion.ocn.ne.jp
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shintaku
authors.forename: Kohji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsuta
authors.forename: Hidehiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Airo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsubura
authors.forename: Yasuaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Noda
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D001050:Apocrine Glands / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D001053:Apolipoproteins; D053399:Apolipoproteins D; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D005142:Eyelid Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D013544:Sweat Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: C024328:APOD protein, human; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D001053:Apolipoproteins; D053399:Apolipoproteins D; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; C488892:PIP protein, human; C047052:tumor-associated antigen 72