Korean J Dermatol.  2018 Aug;56(7):447-451.

A Case of Microcystic Adnexal Carcinoma with Secondary Cicatricial Alopecia

• Shin HJ
• Kim YJ
• Won CH
• Chang SE
• Lee MW
• Choi JH
• Lee WJ

Abstract

Microcystic adnexal carcinoma (MAC) was first described in 1982 by Goldstein. Considered a rare malignant skin appendageal tumor, it is often underdiagnosed due to its clinical and histopathological resemblance to other cutaneous neoplasms. MAC is locally aggressive with infiltration of perineural spaces, subcutaneous tissue, skeletal muscles, and so on. Aggressive treatment including wide local excision, Mohs micrographic surgery, or radiation therapy is necessary owing to the high recurrence rate. Herein, we report a case of a 47-year-old Korean woman with a skin-colored hardened plaque on the scalp with a clinical diagnosis of cicatricial alopecia and histopathological diagnosis of MAC. After treatment by Mohs micrographic surgery, the patient is being followed up regularly without any sign of recurrence. This case demonstrates an uncommon topography of MAC on the scalp with secondary cicatricial alopecia and highlights the need for awareness of the potential for MAC in the diagnosis of alopecia with a slow-growing tumor.

Keyword

Alopecia; Microcystic adnexal carcinoma; Pathology; Cicatricial alopecia; Skin neoplasms

MeSH Terms

Alopecia*
Diagnosis
Female
Humans
Middle Aged
Mohs Surgery
Muscle, Skeletal
Pathology
Recurrence
Scalp
Skin
Skin Neoplasms
Subcutaneous Tissue