Clinicopathological diversity of syringomas

Abstract

Usually, syringomas display a wide spectrum of benign adnexal neoplasms derived from the intraepidermal part of eccrine sweat ducts. Women are more frequently affected than men. Syringomas mainly occur in the periorbital area, but also affect the scalp, forehead, neck, abdomen, and extremities. A variety of clinical presentations of syringomas have been published, as well as cases associated with Down`s syndrome and familial syringoma. The eruptive occurrence of multiple syringomas in healthy persons has been reported rarely. We report a small case series of patients with syringomas, highlighting the different clinicopathologic manifestations and variations, and review the recent literature.

Acknowledgements

We thank Anne Kerber for excellent histological and immunohistological stainings.

Figures and Tables

Figure 1 Reactive syringomatous proliferation in conjunction with scarring alopecia due to lichen planopilaris (patient #1), H&E, ×200

Figure 2 Extensive syringoma located in the vulva, causing severe pruritus (patient #2), H&E, ×100

Figure 3 Representative lesion of an eruptively disseminating syringomatosis (patient #3), H&E, ×100.

Figure 4 Facial syringoma of patient #6 with fibrosing stroma reaction, H&E, ×100.

Figure 5 PAS-positive staining of amorphous material within the cystic luminas, PAS stain, ×200.

Figure 6 Epithelial cords lined by one or two layers of polygonal epithelial cells with comma-like tails, stained with cytokeratin marker AE1/AE3, ×100.

Figure 7 Disseminated brownish papules at the chest and mammary of patient #3.

Table 1 Clinical data