What are the other Names for this Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)

• Apocrine Adenocarcinoma of Skin
• Apocrine Gland Carcinoma of Skin
• Cutaneous Apocrine Carcinoma

What is Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin? (Definition/Background Information)

• Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin is a rare malignant tumor that originates from the apocrine sweat glands. The tumor normally occurs on the armpits
• There are three different types of sweat glands in the skin. These include the following:
  • Apocrine sweat glands
  • Eccrine sweat glands
  • Apoeccrine sweat glands
• Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin is usually observed in adults, young or old. It is a slow-growing tumor that can metastasize. Sometimes, multiple tumors may be present
• The cause and risk factors for Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin are generally unknown
• The treatment of choice is a surgical excision with clear margins followed by radiation therapy or chemotherapy, as decided by the healthcare provider
• In majority of the cases, the prognosis is good with appropriate early treatment. However, the prognosis of Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin also depends upon the stage of the tumor, health status of the individual, and if it has metastasized

Who gets Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin? (Age and Sex Distribution)

• Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin is a rare condition that is more common in adults in the age group 20-90 years (average age at diagnosis being 55 years)
• Both males and females are equally affected
• All racial and ethnic groups may be affected

What are the Risk Factors for Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin? (Predisposing Factors)

• The risk factors for Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin have not been currently established

It is important to note that having a risk factor does not mean that one will get the condition. A risk factor increases one's chances of getting a condition compared to an individual without the risk factors. Some risk factors are more important than others.

Also, not having a risk factor does not mean that an individual will not get the condition. It is always important to discuss the effect of risk factors with your healthcare provider.

What are the Causes of Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin? (Etiology)

• The cause of development of Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin is presently unknown. However, some researchers believe that it arises from the apocrine sweat gland
• Genetic mutations have been suspected by researchers in some cases, but these have not been well-characterized

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin?

Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin may present the following signs and symptoms:

• Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin is typically seen as a slow-growing solitary nodule, but multiple nodules are also known to occur
• They may range in size from 1-10 cm
• It is mostly asymptomatic and painless
• The nodules may ulcerate and bleed, which can cause pain at the site
• Majority of the tumors are known to occur in the axilla region (armpits), but they may occur in other anogenital areas too
• Head and neck region is an uncommon site for Cutaneous Apocrine Carcinomas

How is Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin Diagnosed?

A diagnosis of Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin may involve the following:

• A thorough medical history and physical examination
• Dermoscopy: It is a diagnostic tool where a dermatologist examines the skin using a special magnified lens
• Wood’s lamp examination: In this procedure, the healthcare provider examines the skin using ultraviolet light. It is performed to examine the change in skin pigmentation
• Skin biopsy: A skin biopsy is performed and sent to a laboratory for a pathological examination. The pathologist examines the biopsy under a microscope. After putting together clinical findings, special studies on tissues (if needed) and with microscope findings, the pathologist arrives at a definitive diagnosis

Many clinical conditions may have similar signs and symptoms. Your healthcare provider may perform additional tests to rule out other clinical conditions to arrive at a definitive diagnosis.

What are the possible Complications of Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin?

Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin can cause the following complications:

• The tumor can metastasize to the local lymph nodes and to distant organs
• Ulceration of the tumor can lead to secondary infections of bacteria and fungus
• Some individuals may have concerns regarding their cosmetic appearance
• Recurrence of the tumor after a period of time, on incomplete removal; the recurrence rate after excision is approximately 33% (i.e., one-third cases recur)
• Side effects of chemotherapy (such as toxicity) and radiation

How is Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin Treated?

The treatment of Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin may involve the following:

• In most cases, a wide surgical excision and removal of the entire tumor is a common treatment option. This may be followed by radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy
• Mohs Micrographic Surgery is the preferred treatment option for Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin
• Because of the high rate of tumor recurrence, radiation treatments are sometimes performed despite clear surgical margins
• If the tumor has metastasized, then a combination of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and invasive procedures may be used to treat the tumor
• Follow-up care with regular screening and check-ups are important and encouraged

How can Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin be Prevented?

• Currently, there are no known methods to prevent Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin occurrence
• Regular medical screening at periodic intervals with blood tests, scans, and physical examinations are mandatory, due to its metastasizing potential and possibility of recurrence. Often several years of active vigilance is necessary

What is the Prognosis of Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin? (Outcomes/Resolutions)

• Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin is a malignant tumor and its prognosis depends upon a set of several factors, which include:
  • Stage of tumor: With lower-stage tumors, when the tumor is confined to site of origin, the prognosis is usually excellent with appropriate therapy. In higher-stage tumors, such as tumors with metastasis, the prognosis is poor
  • The surgical resectability of the tumor (meaning if the tumor can be removed completely) 
  • Overall health of the individual: Individuals with overall excellent health have better prognosis compared to those with poor health
  • Age of the individual: Older individuals generally have poorer prognosis than younger individuals
  • Whether the tumor is occurring for the first time or is a recurrent tumor. Recurrent tumors have a poorer prognosis compared to tumors that do not recur
  • Response to treatment: Tumors that respond to treatment have better prognosis compared to tumors that do not respond so well to treatment
• An early diagnosis and prompt treatment of the tumor generally yields better outcomes than a late diagnosis and delayed treatment
• If metastasis (such as to the local lymph nodes) is observed, then the prognosis is unpredictable
• Regular follow up visits with the healthcare provider are important, since many of these tumors are known to recur after treatment

Additional and Relevant Useful Information for Apocrine Carcinoma of Skin:

• There is no evidence to prove that Cutaneous Apocrine Carcinoma formation is influenced by one’s dietary choices
• Cleaning the skin too hard with strong chemicals or soaps may aggravate the skin condition. Care must be taken avoid strong soaps and chemicals that could potentially worsen the condition
• The presence of dirt on the body is not a causative factor for the condition. However, it helps to be clean and hygienic, which may help the condition from getting worse