Mucinous eccrine carcinoma of the eyelid.

BACKGROUND

Mucinous eccrine carcinoma (MEC) is a rare malignant tumor that typically arises in the periorbital area.

METHODS

The authors report the 73rd case of primary MEC of the skin. This patient's clinicopathologic findings and the world literature are reviewed.

RESULTS

Patient ages range from 8-84 years (median, 63 years). The male-to-female ratio was approximately 2:1. The racial distribution was 67% white, 32% black, and 4% Asian. Primary MEC originates in the head and neck region in approximately 75% of patients. The most common location was the periorbital area (40% or 29 of 73 patients). The local recurrence rate after conventional surgery was: eyelid, 34%; scalp, 36%; and face, 33%.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary MEC is often a slow-growing tumor that may recur after traditional surgical excision. Recurrent eyelid MEC tends to be locally destructive with a regional metastatic rate of 3.5% (1 of 29). The regional metastatic rate for all sites was 11%, and the distant metastatic rate was 3%.