[Atypical course of an apocrine sweat gland carcinoma of the axilla : A very rare malignant tumor and its interdisciplinary treatment]

A case of eccrine porocarcinoma characterized by a progressive increase in the level of Ki-67 index: case report and review of literature

Background

Eccrine porocarcinoma is an extremely rare skin adnexal malignant neoplasia with highly invasive and metastatic potential. We report an additional case of eccrine porocarcinoma with intracranial metastases. This case is characterized by a complete record of the progress of eccrine porocarcinoma, its immunohistochemistry after three operations showed a progressive increase in the level of Ki-67 index.

Case presentation

We herein report a case of a 37-year-old-male with eccrine carcinoma occurring on the left posterior occipital scalp which invaded the skull and dura, presenting with progressive headache. This patient has performed three surgeries in total. During the last hospitalization, he underwent an extended surgical resection, lymphadenectomy, myocutaneous flap transplantation and vascular anastomosis in our institution. After surgery, he was treating with radiotherapy at 200 Gray in 12 fractions. But one year after the operation, he developed chest tightness, imaging examination and biopsy puncture revealed pulmonary metastasis.

Conclusion

Intracranial metastasis of eccrine porocarcinoma is a late event with poor prognosis. This case emphases on that progressively increased level of Ki-67 index may predict more chance to occur the intracranial metastasis of scalp eccrine porocarcinoma, long-term follow-up and appropriately dense follow-up interval is necessary.