China Science

BACKGROUND: Primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the skin is a rare tumor; itslocation in the axilla is rarer still. It closely mimics metastatic adenocarcinoma histologically.Owing to the good prognosis of the tumor, it is imperative that it is diagnosed or at leastsuspected to save the patient from unnecessary investigation and a radical treatment. Fine needleaspiration cytology (FNAC) is a very useful preoperative investigation for its diagnosis; however,cytologic description is not available in the literature so far. CASE: A 50-year-old man presentedto the outpatient surgery department with a lump in the left axilla for 6 months. FNAC of the lumpwas done. The cytologic smears were hypercellular, with loosely dispersed cells in a background ofpale pink material. On high-power examination, cells were monomorphic with plasmacytoid appearanceand no atypia. Occasional mitotic activity was seen. A possibility of appendageal tumor wassuggested and excision biopsy advised. On subsequent biopsy a diagnosis of primary mucinousadenocarcinoma of the skin was made. CONCLUSION: Because of the better prognosis of primary mucinousadenocarcinoma of the skin vis-a-vis metastatic adenocarcinoma; preoperative diagnosis isnecessary. FNAC can serve as a rapid and accurate first-line investigation.

Kotru,M　Manucha,V　Singh,UR
Department of Pathology, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru TegBahadur Hospital, Shahadra, Delhi, India.

Adenocarcinoma　 Integumentary system　 Diagnostic　 Neoplasms prognostic