Hidradenocarcinoma of the Lower Extremity: A Case Report

Hidradenocarcinoma is an extremely rare malignant tumour of the eccrine gland. It is most commonly found in the head and neck region; it rarely occurs in the extremities. It poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to its aggressive nature and rare occurrence. Hereby, the authors presented a case of a 57-year-old male fisherman who presented with a gradually enlarging swelling over the lateral aspect of the left leg below the knee for two years. On physical examination, a single 6×4 cm elliptical, soft-to-firm, non tender, non fluctuant swelling was noted. Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the area revealed a solid, cystic, exophytic mass measuring 4.2×2.7×5.7 cm at the lateral aspect of the left leg, arising from the subcutaneous tissue with no deeper extension, suggestive of cutaneous malignant neoplastic aetiology. The patient underwent a wide local excision of the mass with negative margins, and histopathological examination confirmed hidradenocarcinoma. He was not started on adjuvant therapy and managed with only surgical excision and regular follow-up. There were no signs of recurrence in the follow-up period. Although rare, hidradenocarcinoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chronic cutaneous masses of the extremities. Early diagnosis and wide surgical excision with clear margins are critical to prevent recurrence and metastasis.