Adnexal adenocarcinoma of the upper lip

A case of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of adnexal origin in the upper lip of a man aged 75 is reported which on presentation and initial biopsy was thought to be a salivary neoplasm. He had been aware of the lesion for 10 years but had sought treatment because of recent increase in size of the tumour. He subsequently developed bilateral metastases in cervical nodes. The histopathologic features and relationship of the tumour to the orbicularis oris muscle were consistent with a poorly differentiated adnexal adenocarcinoma of sweat-gland origin. Although carcinomas of skin adnexae are rare they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of tumours in the orofacial region.