Published online Oct 6, 2019. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v7.i19.3033
Peer-review started: June 3, 2019
First decision: August 1, 2019
Revised: August 22, 2019
Accepted: September 9, 2019
Article in press: September 9, 2019
Published online: October 6, 2019
Sweat glands belong to skin appendages. Sweat gland tumors are uncommon, especially when they occur as malignant tumors in the breast. We report a case of malignant sweat gland tumor of the breast, including imaging and pathological findings.
A 47-year-old woman visited our hospital with a non-tender palpable lesion in her left breast. The lesion had not shown changes for 10 years. However, it recently increased in size. Sonography showed a well circumscribed cystic lesion with internal debris and fluid-fluid level. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a well circumscribed oval mass with T1 hyper-intensity compared to muscle and T2 high signal intensity. There was a small enhancing mural component in the inner wall of the mass. The tumor was resected. Its pathologic result was a malignant transformation of benign sweat gland tumor such as hidradenoma. The lesion was treated with excision and radiation therapy. At 1-year follow up, there was no local recurrence or metastasis in the patient.
In the case of a rapid growing cystic mass in the nipple and subareola, it is necessary to distinguish it from a malignant sweat gland tumor.
Core tip: Sweat gland tumors of the breast are rare. They are clinically similar to benign cutaneous lesions. Imaging findings of sweat gland tumors have been rarely reported. This case will help us understand types of sweat gland tumors, the distinction between cutaneous and breast parenchymal lesions, and differential diagnosis of cutaneous lesions.