The Role of Pembrolizumab in the Treatment of Sebaceous Carcinoma

Treatment of Malignant Adnexal Tumors of the Skin: A 12-Year Perspective

Malignant adnexal cancers of the skin—extremely rare neoplasms—are mostly reported as non-symptomatic, slow-growing nodules. These carcinomas occur mainly in the middle-aged (50–60 years of age); they are mostly localized on the upper part of the body and are locally aggressive, infiltrate surrounding tissue, and metastasize to regional lymph nodes. The patients’ outcomes depend on multiple prognostic factors, including the size of the primary tumor and its mitotic count. Surgical resection of the primary tumor with or without regional lymph nodes is the treatment method of choice; however, due to aggressive tumor behavior, perioperative treatment may be considered. The role and efficacy of radiotherapy in the treatment of skin adnexal malignancies are not yet fully defined. Some authors suggest that adjuvant radiotherapy may be considered in locally advanced and regional disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate treatment outcomes and assess the efficacy of combined therapy in patients with adnexal malignancies. Our analysis covered all cases of cutaneous adnexal tumor patients diagnosed and provided with multidisciplinary treatment with surgery and radiotherapy since the beginning of 2009.

Giant Aggressive Extraocular Sebaceous Carcinoma: A Case Report

Sebaceous carcinoma (SC) is a rare, aggressive malignancy. Most lesions occur in the periocular region, with few cases presenting with extraocular lesions. Here, we report a case of an 89-year-old woman with a 3-month history of a rapidly growing giant extraocular SC. The diagnosis was based on skin biopsy findings. We advised the patient to undergo surgical excision of the carcinoma. However, the patient and her family rejected our proposed surgical treatment, opting for topical traditional Chinese medicine as alternative treatment. The patient subsequently died of unknown causes at home, four months after the first visit. This case of treatment failure emphasizes the importance of early detection and treatment for these aggressive tumors.