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Linear syringocystadenoma papilliferum: An uncommon event with a favorable prognosis

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Linear syringocystadenoma papilliferum: An uncommon event with a favorable prognosis
Antonio Martorell-Calatayud MD1, Virginia Sanz-Motilva MD2, Maria Angeles Garcia-Sales MA MD3, Calatayud-Blas A MD3
Dermatology Online Journal 17 (8): 5

1. Dermatology Department, Hospital General de Requena, Valencia, Spain. antmarto@hotmail.com
2. Dermatology Department, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
3. Pathology Department, Hospital General de Requena, Valencia, Spain


Abstract

Syringocystadenoma papilliferum (SCAP) is an uncommon cutaneous adnexal tumor of uncertain histogenesis. Various authors have postulated that the tumor differentiates toward apocrine gland, eccrine gland, or the apo-eccrine gland. We present a patient with an unusual linear form.



Introduction

Syringocystadenoma papilliferum (SCAP) is an uncommon cutaneous adnexal tumor of uncertain histogenesis. Various authors have postulated that the tumor differentiates toward apocrine gland, eccrine gland, or the apo-eccrine gland [1].

The linear form is uncommon and generally involves the neck.


Figure 1
Figure 1. Linear vesicle-like lesions on the neck

Most cases of SCAP present as solitary lesions and occur in the head and neck region, often in association with a nevus sebaceus [1, 2]. The development of multiple SCAP lesions in the same patient is a rare event and a linear arrangement following Blaschko lines is exceptional. Thus, epidemiological, clinical, histopathological features and possible systemic associations in patients with linear SCAP are not well studied.

We report a case of linear SCAP presenting on the neck and review the past cases reported in the literature with the aim of better establishing the characteristics of this disease.


Figure 2AFigure 2B
Figure 2A. Epidermal invaginations and cyst-like cavities in the dermis with an overlying hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis.

Figure 2B. The villous papillary projections showed an epithelial lining consisting of a double-layered epithelium with an inner layer of tall columnar cells and an outer layer of small cuboidal cells. (H&E x200).

An otherwise healthy 15-year-old girl presented with a linear cluster of multiple, occasionally pruritic lesions on the left side of the neck. The papules had been present since early childhood and no significant change in size or general appearance was noted in the following years. Physical examination confirmed the presence of 20 discrete, erythematous vesicle-like papules in a linear array on the neck, each ranging from 2 to 6 mm in diameter (Figure 1).

The cutaneous biopsy specimen showed areas of epidermal hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis associated with proliferations of structures composed of papillary projections lined by two rows of cells: an outer layer of cuboidal cells and an inner (luminal) layer of columnar cells with some evidence of decapitation secretion (Figure 2A). The stroma of the papillary projections regularly included plasma cells (Figure 2B). These features, consistent with SCAP lesions, were accompanied by histological structures compatible with hydrocystoma and apocrine cystadenoma.

Currently, the 3 recognized types of nevoid SCAP are plaque, solitary nodular, and linear types. The last form is very rare and only 13 cases of linear SCAP have been reported in the literature [3-13].

This linear variant is usually present at birth, and in a further 15 to 30 percent, it develops before puberty. At birth or early childhood, lesions consist of multiple linear papulo-vesicles with dome-shaped surfaces. These lesions, which may ulcerate, tend to increase in size at puberty and sometimes multiply in number, becoming more verrucous and papillomatous. Nearly all the cases of linear SCAP involved the neck, and in lesser frequency, chest, arm, and thigh [3-13]. None of them evolved from an existing nevus sebaceous.

Although linear SCAP presentations are variable, histopathological characteristics are distinctive. A unifying feature is the presence of duct-like invaginations and cyst-like cavities of various shapes and sizes extending from the epidermal surface into the body of the lesion. These extensions characteristically have keratinized epithelium near the surface of the lesion, transitioning to ducts lined by 2 epithelial cell layers, with an inner columnar layer resting on a basal low-cuboidal epithelial layer. The connective tissue stroma surrounding these duct-like structures contains a chronic inflammatory infiltrate with plasma lymphocyte predominance. An association of these lesions with dilated apocrine glands or cystadenoma-like structures seems frequent in linear SCAP [3-13].

Malignant transformation to basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or sweat gland carcinoma has been described in plaque, solitary, and nodular types. However, none of linear cases evolved into a malignancy, probably because of their de novo origin [3-13].

Treatment options with acceptable aesthetic results include surgical excision and laser ablation (CO2) [12, 13].

In summary, SCAP can rarely present as multiple lesions in a linear array, unassociated with a nevus sebaceus or an epidermal nevus. It should therefore be included in the list of other adnexal tumors that can form linear arrangements, including nevus comedonicus, trichodiscoma, trichoepithelioma, basaloid follicular hamartoma, cylindroma, eccrine nevus, syringoma, eccrine poroma, eccrine spiradenoma, and basal cell carcinoma [9].

References

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