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Facial Sweat Gland Carcinoma Metastasizing to Neck Nodes
A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenge
S. J. Daniel, MD, FRCSC;
Remi Nader, MD;
Karen Kost, MD, FRCSC;
Istvan Hüttner, MD, PhD, FRCPC
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2001;127:1495-1498.
We report an unusual case involving a patient with sweat gland carcinoma
of the cheek who presented with ipsilateral neck lymph node metastasis 10
years after his initial presentation. Pathological analysis of the surgical
specimen revealed a strong reactivity of tumor cells to gross cystic disease
fluid protein 15, estrogen receptor protein, and progesterone receptor protein.
On the basis of these results, tamoxifen citrate therapy was initiated empirically.
Our patient has been disease free for more than 3 years. Based on this and
another case reported in the literature, we believe that antiestrogen therapy
could prove beneficial in a subset of patients with sweat gland carcinoma.
We recommend future multicenter clinical trials to assess the effectiveness
of postoperative tamoxifen therapy for patients with estrogen and progesterone
receptor protein–positive metastatic sweat gland carcinoma.
From the Departments of Otolaryngology (Drs Daniel, Nader, and Kost)
and Pathology (Dr Hüttner), McGill University Health Centre, Montreal,
Quebec.
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