Eccrine porocarcinoma, a malignancy of the eccrine sweat glands, is ex
tremely rare. Our report and a review of the literature (70 cases) emp
hasize the features of this tumor. Age at time of treatment ranged fro
m 19 to 94 years (mean 67 years). Duration of the lesion ranged from t
wo months to 50 years; 31 (44%) had the lesion present greater-than-or
-equal-to 5 years. Forty-four patients (62%) had tumors located on the
extremities, 13 (19%) on the head and neck region and 12 (17%) on the
trunk. All patients whose race is known were white. Primary treatment
should consist of wide local excision and regional lymphadenectomy, i
f clinically indicated. Although there is a significant risk of cutane
ous, regional lymph node, or visceral metastases, the value of electiv
e or therapeutic regional lymphadenectomy is unknown, as is the role o
f adjunctive therapy. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.