Ceruminous gland tumours: a reappraisal

Ceruminous glands should no longer be regarded as purely apocrine glands, but as apoeccrine glands with both apocrine and eccrine modes of secretion. We present two cases of pleomorphic adenoma of ceruminous glands, among the rarest of such tumours. The use of such terms as 'ceruminoma' and 'hidradenoma' should finally be abandoned, and 'ceruminous gland tumour' used instead as a generic term. Classification should be based on Wetli's prototype (adenoma, pleomorphic adenoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma and adenocarcinoma), with the addition of benign eccrine cylindroma and syringocystadenoma papilliferum; the inclusion of mucoepidermoid carcinoma should await full validation. Wide local excision is necessary for all tumours, with only follow-up for histologically benign neoplasms. Malignant tumours need early aggressive surgery and radiotherapy. If marginal invasion cannot be assessed histologically, then adenoma and adenocarcinoma cannot be distinguished and we suggest that the tumour be reported as 'of uncertain malignant potential'. Long-term studies are needed to confirm or refute the view that all ceruminous gland tumours are potentially malignant.