Malignant Eccrine Hidradenoma

Abstract

Hidradenomas are adenomatous tumors of sweat gland origin that are usually benign and can occur in any cutaneous skin surface. When malignant, the tumors have high recurrence rates and are often fatal. Because of their infrequency and clinical ambiguity, hidradenomas are often misdiagnosed as other soft-tissue masses. Radiation and chemotherapy have not shown to be of benefit; therefore, wide aggressive excision and lymphadenectomy are currently the treatments of choice. We present the case of a patient with a malignant hidradenoma presenting in her medial heel. After excisional biopsy identified the tumor, the patient was successfully treated with wide excision and delayed closure via vacuum-assisted closure. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 103(4): 333–336, 2013)