[Collagenolysis above eccrine spiradenoma].

BACKGROUND

The casual observation of a peritumoral edema with collagenolysis in a case of eccrine spiradenoma led us to search for similar lesions in a retrospective series of 50 spiradenomas.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Among 50 cases of eccrine spiradenomas, 36 excised with the overlying epidermis and the surrounding dermis were finally available for a conventional histologie study.

RESULTS

In 14 cases, i.e. 39p. 100, we observed an edema above the tumour with thin and sparse collagen fibers and less altered elastic fibers. The clinical presentation of these 14 cases was not different from the general presentation of eccrine spiradenomas, but no precise photographical or clinical data were available.

DISCUSSION

The cause of this epitumoral collagenolysis is unknown. It seems unrelated to the clear perivascular spaces often observed within the tumour lobules. It is of no help for diagnosis and may be considered as an unexplained curiosity like the elastolysis and the anetoderma seen above some pilomatricomas.