A case of primary mucinous carcinoma of the scalp treated with mohs surgery.
BACKGROUND
Primary mucinous carcinoma of the skin is a rare sweat gland malignancy that is associated with locally aggressive behavior and a high rate of local recurrence following simple excision.


OBJECTIVE
A patient with primary mucinous carcinoma of the scalp, which was treated with Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS), is described.


METHODS
Case report and literature review.


RESULTS
The patient underwent MMS to remove the tumor. Thirty months after the procedure, the patient remains tumor free.


CONCLUSIONS
Simple excision of primary mucinous carcinoma of the skin is associated with a high recurrence rate. Given the low rate of metastasis and characteristic histologic tumor continuity associated with primary mucinous carcinoma of the skin, as well as the tendency for the tumor to involve cosmetically sensitive areas, such as the face and eyelids, MMS appears to represent a preferable treatment alternative for this particular sweat gland tumor. MMS appears to be associated with a very low risk of tumor recurrence.
Ortiz
K Jill
KJ
Department of Dermatology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, and Department of Pathology, Veterans Administration Hospital, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
Gaughan
Mark D
MD
Bang
Ran H
RH
Padilla
R Steven
RS
Crooks
Lida A
LA
D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015580:Mohs Surgery; D012535:Scalp / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*