Skin adnexal tumors unveiled: A tertiary care perspective from North India

Background: Skin adnexal tumors (SATs) encompass wide spectrum of benign and malignant tumors that differentiate toward one or more adnexal structures found in normal skin. Overall incidence of SATs is low, yet they can be challenging to diagnose. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphological, clinical, and histological features of SATs and categorize them according to their line of differentiation. Materials and Methods: The present study was a retrospective study conducted over a period of 3 years from January 2021 to December 2024 including a total of 75 cases diagnosed as SATs in the department of Pathology at Pt. B.D. Sharma Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histopathological analysis. Special stains and immunohistochemistry were done wherever possible. Results: Most of the ATs were benign (74/75) with head and neck being the most common location (52%). The hair follicle tumors accounted for the largest number of cases 50.67% (38/75), followed by eccrine tumors 38.67% (29/75), apocrine tumors 6.67% (5/75), and sebaceous gland tumors 2.67% (2/75). Conclusion: Histopathological examination is gold standard for establishing diagnosis of SATs due to its indistinctive clinical presentation.