Hidradenoma refers to a benign
adnexal tumor of the apical
sweat gland
Sweat glands, also known as sudoriferous or sudoriparous glands, , are small tubular structures of the skin that produce sweat. Sweat glands are a type of exocrine gland, which are glands that produce and secrete substances onto an epithelial sur ...
.
These are 1–3 cm translucent blue cystic nodules. It usually presents as a single, small skin-colored lesion, and may be considered closely related to or a variant of
poroma
Poromas are rare, benign, cutaneous adnexal tumors. Cutaneous adnexal tumors are a group of skin tumors consisting of tissues that have differentiated (i.e. matured from stem cells) towards one or more of the four primary adnexal structures fo ...
s.
Hidradenomas are often sub-classified based on subtle histologic differences, for example:
* Eccrine acrospiroma
* Clear-cell hidradenoma or acrospiroma
* Nodular hidradenoma or acrospiroma
* Solid-cystic hidradenoma
Discussion of sweat gland tumors can be difficult and confusing due to the complex classification and redundant terminology used to describe the same tumors. For example, acrospiroma and hidradenoma are synonymous, and sometimes the term ''acrospiroma'' is used to generally describe benign sweat gland tumors. In addition, a single lesion may contain a mixture of cell-types.
There has also been a change in understanding about how tumors that were previously believed to strictly derive from specific sweat gland types may, in fact, derive from both eccrine ''or'' apocrine glands.
Hidradenomas are by definition benign, with malignant transformation very rare. When tumors show malignant characteristics, they are known as hidradenocarcinoma.
Surgical excision is usually curative and local recurrences are rare, although malignant tumors may metastasize.
See also
*
Spiroma
*
List of cutaneous conditions
Many skin conditions affect the human integumentary system—the organ system covering the entire surface of the body and composed of skin, hair, nails, and related muscle and glands. The major function of this system is as a barrier against t ...
*
References
External links
{{Tumors of skin appendages
Integumentary neoplasia
Epidermal nevi, neoplasms, and cysts