Benign chondroid syringoma: report of a case clinically mimicking a malignant neoplasm

Chondroid syringoma, or mixed tumor of skin, is an uncommon sweat gland tumor most often seen in the head-and-neck region of patients in the sixth or seventh decade. Tumors usually present as asymptomatic, slowly growing masses. Histologically, there are both epithelial and stromal components. The treatment of choice is local excision. Rare malignant examples have been reported, commonly involving the extremities. We present a case of cutaneous chondroid syringoma arising in the thigh of a 28-year-old female. The tumor grew over a 4-year period, increasing rapidly in size over the last few months with fixation and pigmentation of the overlying skin clinically mimicking a malignant neoplasm. Such cutaneous appendage tumors are uncommon, and surgeons may be unfamiliar with them.