Primary cutaneous cribriform apocrine carcinoma: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of 26 cases of an under-recognized cutaneous adnexal neoplasm.
BACKGROUND
Cribriform carcinoma is the histopathologic variant of cutaneous apocrine carcinoma characterized by interconnected solid aggregations of neoplastic cells that are punctuated by small round spaces.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the histopathologic and immunohistochemical characteristics of this under-recognized cutaneous adnexal neoplasm.


METHODS
Twenty-six cases of primary cutaneous cribriform apocrine carcinoma were clinically, histopathologically, and immunohistochemically studied.


RESULTS
Seven neoplasms arose in males and 19 in females. The median age of the patients was 47.8 years. The lower and upper limbs were the most frequent sites. Histopathologically, the neoplasms consisted of well-circumscribed dermal nodules composed of multiple, interconnected, solid aggregations of basophilic epithelial cells that were punctuated by small round spaces. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells expressed immunoreactivity for MNF116, AE1/AE3, Cam 5.2, cytokeratin 7, carcinoembryonic antigen, and epithelial membrane antigen.


CONCLUSIONS
All specimens came from dermatopathology laboratories, and some inherent selection bias may exist.


CONCLUSIONS
Primary cutaneous cribriform apocrine carcinoma is a distinctive but little-known variant of cutaneous apocrine carcinoma.
Rütten
Arno
A
Dermatohistopathologische Gemeinschaftspraxis, Friedrichshafen, Germany.
Kutzner
Heinz
H
Mentzel
Thomas
T
Hantschke
Markus
M
Eckert
Fritof
F
Angulo
Jorge
J
Rodríguez Peralto
Jose Luis
JL
Requena
Luis
L
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001050:Apocrine Glands / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001706:Biopsy; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008871:Microvilli / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008875:Middle Aged; D018294:Neoplasms, Adnexal and Skin Appendage / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor