Biological behavior of the sebaceous carcinoma of the head.
BACKGROUND
The reports in the literature indicate that extraocular sebaceous carcinoma (SC), in contrast to orbital SC, is less aggressive and rarely metastasizes.


METHODS
Of 2422 epithelioma cases observed over 10 years, 8 (0.33%) resulted as histologically proven SCs, all of which were located in the head.


RESULTS
The clinical behavior of these tumors was observed by following patients for an average period of 50 months. Three of the tumors originated from the orbital region and five from other areas of the head (extraocular). In one case, the SC was associated with renal carcinoma (Muir-Torre syndrome). None of the orbital tumors metastasized, whereas two of the five cases of extraocular carcinoma metastasized to the locoregional lymph nodes.


CONCLUSIONS
It should be stressed that in this case study aggressive biologic behavior was observed in carcinoma arising from extraorbital areas.
Institute of Plastic Surgery, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Franco
F
Bassetto
Roberto
R
Baraziol
Mariacristina Vicari
MV
Sottosanti
Carlotta
C
Scarpa
Mariacristina
M
Montesco
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012626:Sebaceous Gland Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*