Eccrine spiradenoma (ES): A rare adnexal tumour

Abstract

Eccrine spiradenoma is an extremely rare adnexal tumor of the sweat gland, first described in 1934 by Sutton and later by Kersting et al., in 1956. It commonly presents as a painful, nodular, slow-growing mass on the upper trunk, head and neck region, usually between 15-35 years of age. Eccrine spiradenocarcinoma, its malignant counterpart also exists with a metastasis rate of 50% and mortality rate of 37%, making the diagnosis of ES essential. A biopsy is usually essential for proper identification of this rare tumour as it resembles other dermal lesions such as leiomyoma, dermatofibroma, angiolipoma, glomus tumour, papilloma and neurofibroma. We herein describe a case of Spiradenoma in a 37 year old gentleman who presented to the General surgery department at our hospital. Owing to the paucity of data, no guidelines for the optimal management of ES cases currently exists in the literature. Our case was unusual as the tumour was non-tender and had a pedunculated, papilloma-like configuration as opposed to usual nodular configuration.