Aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma of the foot: The clinicopathologic features of two cases

Abstract

Aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma is a rare variant of sweat gland carcinoma of the digits and volar surfaces which has the potential for highly aggressive biologic behavior. The authors report two cases of aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma of the foot. In each instance, the tumor arose on the volar surfaces of the digits. Additionally, in both instances, the tumor's unusual clinical presentations delayed biopsy and definitive diagnosis for several months. Following initial conservative surgery, both patients suffered local recurrences. In one case, local recurrence was followed by widespread distant metastases. Although aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma is virtually limited to the hands and feet, to the authors' knowledge it has not been previously reported in the podiatric literature. In this report, the clinicopathologic features of this rare variant of sweat gland carcinoma are summarized and a brief review of the literature is presented.