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Journal List > Skull Base > v.15(4); Nov 2005

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Skull Base. 2005 November; 15(4): 275–280.
Prepublished online 2005 October 19. doi: 10.1055/s-2005-918885.
PMCID: PMC1380267
Copyright © 2005 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.
Aggressive Syringomatous Carcinoma of the Orbit
Shingo Hasegawa, M.D.,1,6 Eiji Kohmura, M.D.,2 Akihiro Ichinose, M.D.,3 Shinya Tahara, M.D.,3 Atsushi Azumi, M.D.,4 Chiho Ohbayashi, M.D.,5 and Ken-ichi Nibu, M.D., Ph.D.1
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, Japan
2Department of Neurosurgery, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, Japan
3Department of Plastic Surgery, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, Japan
4Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, Japan
5Department of Pathology, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, Japan
6Department of Otolaryngology, Kohnan General Hospital, Kobe, Japan
Ken-ichi Nibu M.D., Ph.D. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University, Kusunoki-cho 7-5-1, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan, Email: nibu/at/med.kobe-u.ac.jp
ABSTRACT
A 68-year-old woman with an unusual tumor involving the right orbit presented with painful exophthalmos of the right eye. Excision biopsy of her right eyelid was performed. The specimen showed ductal differentiation with comma-like extensions identical to syringoma. Cellular atypia, an invasive growth pattern, and remarkable perineural invasion led to the diagnosis of syringomatous carcinoma. Magnetic resonance imaging showed that the tumor exhibited maxillary involvement, invading the supraorbital fissure and bone of the middle skull base. The patient underwent craniofacial resection and has been alive with no sign of recurrence for 2 years. This case suggests that wide excision of these tumors with a clear surgical margin using skull base surgical techniques may offer a good prognosis.
Keywords: Syringomatous carcinoma, eccrine sweat glands tumor, orbital tumor, skull base surgery
 
Syringomatous carcinomas are rare tumors derived from eccrine sweat glands. They were first described by Goldstein et al1 in 1982 as “microcystic adnexal carcinoma.” These tumors most frequently occur on the scalp2,3,4 and face5,6,7; occasionally they involve the periorbital area (Table 1).5,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17 We describe one case with a syringomatous carcinoma of the orbit that demonstrates the locally aggressive nature of these tumors.
Table 1
Table 1
Syringomatous Carcinoma of the Eyelid: Reported Cases
CASE REPORT
In February 2003, a 68-year-old woman sought treatment after experiencing a painful lesion in her right orbit for 3 months. Her physical examination revealed exophthalmos of the right eye. Lymphadenopathy was not observed in the neck. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a tumor with maxillary involvement and invading the supraorbital fissure (Fig. 1Figure 1). Computed tomography showed that the tumor infiltrated the bone of her right skull base (Fig. 1Figure 1). An excisional biopsy of her right eyelid was performed at the Department of Ophthalmology and the histopathological diagnosis was a syringomatous carcinoma.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Figure 1
Preoperative imaging. (A) Axial MRI with gadolinium contrast showed an enhancing mass invading the supraorbital fissure. (B) Axial contrast computed tomographic scan showed a large mass destroying maxillary bone by direct (more ...)
The patient underwent craniofacial resection and reconstruction using a rectus abdominis musculocutaneous free flap. Briefly, after a semicoronal skin incision was made, the zygomatic arch and coronoid process were removed (Fig. 2Figure 2). A frontotemporal craniotomy was performed and the brain was elevated from the lateral base laterally to the frontal base of stet to the skull. Cranial nerves II, III, IV, VI, VI and the ophthalmic artery were resected at the supraorbital fissure. Osteotomy of the skull base bone was performed through the right foramen rotundum, supraorbital fissure, and frontal skull base (Fig. 3Figure 3). After a modified Weber's incision was made, the tumor was resected en bloc with a clear margin (Fig. 4Figure 4). The skull base and facial skin defects were reconstructed using a rectus abdominis musculocutaneous free frap (Fig. 5Figure 5).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Figure 2
Illustration showing skin incision and craniotomy. After a semicoronal skin incision was made, the zygomatic arch and coronoid process were removed. Then, a frontotemporal craniotomy was performed. Asterisk indicates resected facial skin.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Figure 3
Illustration showing skull base osteotomy. The osteotomy (shading) was performed through the right foramen rotundum, supraorbital fissure, and frontal skull base.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Figure 4
Illustration showing en bloc resection (shading) of the maxilla with orbital contents and skull base.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Figure 5
Postoperative computed tomographic scan. The skull base and facial skin defects were reconstructed using a rectus abdominis musculocutaneous free flap.
The tumor, which measured by 3 × 3 × 2 cm, showed ductal differentiation with comma-like extensions identical to syringoma (Fig. 6Figure 6). Cellular atypia, invasive growth pattern, and remarkable perineural invasion were suggestive of malignancy. These features led to the diagnosis of syringomatous carcinoma. The carcinoma extended deep into maxillary bone (Fig. 6Figure 6).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Figure 6
Photograph of the pathological specimen. (A) Low power. (B) High power. The tumor showed ductal differentiation with comma-like extensions.
The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. She has been followed for 2 years at our outpatient clinic with no signs of a recurrence.
DISCUSSION
Syringomatous carcinomas have many synonyms such as carcinomas with eccrine differentiation, sclerosing sweat duct syringomatous carcinomas, syringoid eccrine carcinomas, microcystic adnexal carcinomas, basal cell tumors with eccrine differentiation, eccrine epitheliomas, sweat gland carcinomas with syringomatous features, and malignant syringomas.1,2,3,5,8 These carcinomas are now thought to share the same neoplastic process and should be termed “syringomatous carcinomas.” This term has been suggested by Abenoza and Ackerman7 to avoid complex classifications. Based on their proposal, syringomatous carcinomas can be classified into three groups: well differentiated, moderately differentiated, and poorly differentiated. The well-differentiated form is found more frequently than the other two forms.
Histopathologically, syringomatous carcinomas are characterized by (1) cords and nests of cytologically uniform keratinocytes, (2) keratotic and cyst-like structures, (3) variable ductal differentiation, (4) sclerotic collagenous stroma, (5) infiltration of subcutaneous tissue, and (6) perineural invasion.5
Syringomatous carcinomas are thought to occur in the middle-aged and elderly and to show a predilection for the scalp2,3,4 and face.5,6,7 The gender distribution is about equal. Many patients are aware of their neoplasm for many years because most syringomatous carcinomas are indolent and grow slowly. Surgical excision is the most reliable method of eradicating syringomatous carcinomas, as is the case with other eccrine sweat gland carcinomas. The rate of tumor recurrence is high reflecting extensive perineural invasion, but regional or distant metastases are rare.5,9
Radiotherapy has been reported as insufficient to treat this carcinoma.17,18,19 In two cases treated with radiotherapy for primary microcystic adnexal carcinoma, the tumor recurred within 3 years.18,19 One patient who underwent postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy consisting of tamoxifen also had recurrence despite the intensive treatment.20
To date, 14 cases of syringomatous carcinoma arising in the eyelid have been reported.5,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17 In 5 of these cases, the orbital content was involved. All relapsed after surgical treatment. These outcomes suggest that wide surgical excision using skull base surgical techniques, as in our case, should be considered for the treatment of syringomatous carcinomas arising in the eyelid.
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