MULTIPLE HIDROCYSTOMA OF THE FACE - 3 CASES

Multiple hidrocystomas of the face (Robinson type) is an uncommon vari ant of hidrocystoma consisting of multiple cysts of the face of middle -aged women with exacerbation in hot temperatures. Controversy about t he eccrine or apocrine nature of these lesions has appeared in the lit erature almost since their original description in 1893. Immunohistoch emistry is not helpful in distinguishing between eccrine and apocrine differentiation in these lesions and enzyme histochemical studies have not been conclusive. We report three patients with this rare variant of hidrocystoma. In our opinion, multiple hidrocystomas of the face ar e apocrine hidrocystomas in which characteristic 'decapitation' secret ion has been effaced by the pressure of cyst contents against the lini ng epithelium; only after serial sections is it possible to identify s ome areas of the cyst lining showing apocrine secretion in the luminal border of columnar cells.