Primary mucinous carcinoma of the scalp

Primary cutaneous mucinous carcinoma (MC) is a rare epithelial neoplasm der ived from the sweat glands. Herein, we report a case of MC located on the h ead. A 66-year-old woman underwent excision of a nodular tumor with a reddi sh brown surface on the left parietal region. Histopathology revealed a neo plasm extending from the reticular dermis into the subcutaneous fat. The tu mor cell aggregates showed cribriform and solid lobules and were embedded i n lakes of mucin, separated by thin, fibrous septae. Focally single neoplas tic cells were arranged in an Indian-file pattern. The tumor cells dis play ed an eosinophilic cytoplasm, large basophilic nuclei and some discrete nuc lear atypia, Vascular spaces, filled by densely packed erythrocytes between the septae, were also observed. We compared the mucinous component with th e tumor cell and the stromal component by light microscopy. Analyzing the t umor by an image analysis system in Alcian-blue-stained serial sections, we found the averaged total tumor area measuring 99.7 mm(2). The area of the mucinous component measured 92.4 mm(2), that of the tumor cells 3.7 mm(2) a nd that of the stromal component 3.6 mm(2). The extensive checkup of the pa tient disclosed no evidence for a further malignant neoplasm, After excisio n of the tumor an adjuvant radiotherapy was performed. The patient was free of recurrence and metastatic spread of the mucinous carcinoma during a 4-y ear follow-up. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.