glycogen and Acrospiroma

Hidroacanthoma simplex (HS) is an uncommon poroid neoplasm confined within the epidermis. The clinical features of HS are not distinctive and histopathologically HS may be confused with clonal seborrheic keratosis (CSK) if cystic or ductal structure is not present. The purpose of our study was to differentiate HS from CSK by the immunohistochemical expressions of various cytokeratins, CEA, CD1a, and S-100 protein, as well as by the degrees of deposition of melanins and glycogen. Four cases of HS and seven cases of CSK were included in the research. In contrast with CSK, HS showed a very low density of Langerhans cells (19.9 +/- 7.7 versus 3.1 +/- 1.0 CD1a (+) cells/mm, P = 0.027) and sparse melanin deposition in the nests. However, HS could not be set apart from CSK by the expressions of cytokeratins. The nests of both HS and CSK showed very similar patterns of cytokeratin expression and seemed to be mainly composed of basaloid cells with focal differentiation toward epidermal suprabasal cells.

Topics: Acrospiroma; Biomarkers, Tumor; Clone Cells; Dermatitis, Seborrheic; Diagnosis, Differential; Glycogen; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Keratins; Langerhans Cells; Melanins; Sweat Gland Neoplasms

Hidradenomas are benign adnexal neoplasms of uncertain derivation. Although most investigators traditionally have considered these neoplasms to exhibit eccrine differentiation, with only occasional reports supporting apocrine derivation, subdivision of hidradenomas into two groups was recently suggested: those with eccrine differentiation (or poroid hidradenomas) and those exhibiting apocrine differentiation (or clear cell hidradenomas). We have observed five cases of clear cell hidradenomas manifesting unquestionable apocrine characteristics excised from sites other than the axilla, and displaying continuity with the epidermis through follicles. Because of the common embryologic derivation of apocrine glands, sebaceous glands, and hair follicles, and their histologic integration as the folliculo-sebaceous-apocrine unit, these findings suggest a possible origin of certain apocrine hidradenomas from pluripotential germinative cells present in follicles.

Topics: Acrospiroma; Adult; Apocrine Glands; Back; Carcinoembryonic Antigen; Cell Differentiation; Cell Nucleus; Collagen; Cytoplasm; Epidermis; Epithelium; Female; Glycogen; Hair Follicle; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mucin-1; Mucins; Neck; S100 Proteins; Scalp; Scapula; Sebaceous Glands; Stem Cells; Sweat Gland Neoplasms

The relationship between clear-cell syringoma and diabetes mellitus is well established. We present a case of clear-cell porocarcinoma in a diabetic patient. The lesion consisted of a 5-cm nodule on the lateral aspect of the left leg. Histopathologically, the neoplasm was composed of irregular aggregations of neoplastic cells with striking clear-cell appearance, showing features of ductal differentiation. The clear-cell appearance of neoplastic cells was due to glycogen accumulation within their cytoplasm. Immunohistochemistry and ultrastructural studies also supported the diagnosis of a neoplasm with sweat ductal differentiation. Enzyme histochemical reactions for phosphorylase immunoreactivity on fresh, unfixed sections of the neoplasm demonstrated that this immunoreactivity was remarkably decreased. Some adnexal neoplasms of the skin mostly composed of clear cells may be cutaneous markers of diabetes mellitus. Phosphorylase activity deficiency in diabetic patients may be responsible for glycogen accumulation in neoplastic cells resulting in clear-cell appearance of these neoplasms.

Topics: Acrospiroma; Aged; Biomarkers, Tumor; Cell Differentiation; Cell Nucleus; Cytoplasm; Cytoplasmic Granules; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Eccrine Glands; Glycogen; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Microvilli; Mucin-1; Phosphorylases; Skin Neoplasms

A single poroid neoplasm composed of three histologically distinct lesions (hidroacanthomas simplex, eccrine poroma, and dermal duct tumor) is reported. Comparative histologic, histochemical, and electron-microscopic studies revealed that each tumor subtype contained varying proportions of poroid cells, clear cells, and cuticular cells. The major component of all three neoplasms was poroid cells, which, under the electron microscope, were characterized by a few, small, poorly developed desmosomes, and were histochemically characterized by a positive succinic dehydrogenase reaction. The dermal duct tumor was cultured, and showed similar histochemical findings to the in vivo poroid cells. These results suggest that poroid cells play the most important role in the histogenesis of these three neoplasms.

Topics: Acrospiroma; Aged; Cytoplasm; Cytoplasmic Granules; Epidermis; Glycogen; Humans; Keratins; Male; Microscopy, Electron; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary; Skin Neoplasms; Sweat Gland Neoplasms; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Topics: Acrospiroma; Adenocarcinoma; Adenoma, Sweat Gland; Aminopeptidases; Clinical Enzyme Tests; Esterases; Glycogen; Humans; Indoles; Leucine; Pathology; Phosphotransferases; Sweat Gland Neoplasms; Sweat Glands