Sclerosing sweat duct carcinoma of the eyelid

Sclerosing sweat duct carcinoma (SSDC) is a rare variant of sweat gland carcinomas. We report a case of SSDC of the eyelid.

A 33-year-old woman presented with a painless, slowly enlarging nodule in her left lower eyelid. Incisional biopsy revealed proliferated ducts lined by two layers of epithelium embedded in a dense fibrous stroma. Cytologic atypia was not evident. Initial histopathological diagnosis was a syringoma or an inflammatory reaction.

Four years after initial biopsy, the mass had enlarged slightly. Madarosis was observed thereafter. The lesion was excised completely with frozen section evaluation of the margins and repaired by a semicircular rotation flap. Microscopically, variable sized tubular structures could be seen invading the deep dermis and muscle. The final diagnosis was SSDC.

This tumor is seldom recognized and is frequently confused with benign syringoma or inflammation. Wide and deep excisional biopsy is necessary for correct diagnosis and successful treatment.