Sebaceous gland carcinoma is a rare but aggressive skin cancer that can occur anywhere on the body. It is often misdiagnosed and can metastasize easily. It is more common in older people and women and can be a symptom of Muir-Torre syndrome. Treatment includes surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Sebaceous gland carcinoma is an aggressive but rare type of skin cancer. It is commonly found in the eyelid but can occur anywhere as sebaceous glands are found all over the body. This type of cancer is often misdiagnosed as other less serious diseases.
Carcinoma is a type of malignant cancer that forms from epithelial cells. Because it is malignant, it can spread easily to surrounding tissue. Advanced stages of cancer can metastasize through the lymphatic or circulatory system to dock in other organs or parts of the body.
The sebaceous glands are found in the dermis, or middle layer of the skin. They secrete sebum, an oily substance that keeps skin and hair flexible. These glands can easily become clogged with dry sebum, dirt or bacteria, and blockages can form hard lumps that are usually painless, but are visible on the skin’s surface.
Similarly, sebaceous gland carcinoma causes hard, painless lumps on the skin, but these lumps are actually malignant tumors. The inside of the eyelid is the most common place for tumors to form because there are many sebaceous glands in that particular area. The tumors are raised and highly vascular, meaning they have many blood vessels. You may need a biopsy to properly diagnose this condition.
As tumors increase in size, they can become pigmented: Tumors usually become more yellow as they grow. This coloration is due to the addition of lipids as the tumor spreads from the dermal layer into the epidermis. The tissue around the tumor typically becomes red and inflamed.
Sebaceous gland carcinoma tumors can be removed with surgery, but more aggressive cancer treatments may also be needed. Radiation or chemotherapy is recommended to patients, especially in advanced stages of the disease. There is a high mortality rate for this cancer due to the high rate of metastasis.
This disease is more common in older people and in younger people with other eye abnormalities, such as retinoblastoma. It is also more prevalent in women. This form of cancer is much rarer than the similar disease basal cell carcinoma.
Sebaceous gland tumors can also be a symptom of Muir-Torre syndrome. Patients with this syndrome have several malignant skin tumors in various parts of the body, including the sebaceous glands. Common areas of the body for additional cancers in patients with Muir-Torre syndrome include the colon and the kidneys. If cancer is diagnosed, the patient should be examined for further malignancies and be monitored to make sure she does not have Muir-Torre syndrome.
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