Polarizable Crystals in Apocrine Sweat Gland Tumors: A Series of Three Cases

Abstract

Polarizable calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals have been well documented in breast biopsies, generally associated with benign apocrine metaplasia. In contrast, polarizable crystals are only rarely reported in skin adnexal neoplasms. We report three different cases of sweat gland tumors with polarizable crystals morphologically suggestive of CaOx: 1 apocrine hidrocystoma and 2 tubular apocrine adenomas.

The histologic features were examined in 3 cases. Clinical presentation summary included 2 males and 1 female, ages 53 to 74, with lesions located on the left cheek, inferior vertex scalp and the left eyebrow. All three cases showed polarizable, geometric, plate-like and fractured, colorless crystals within the lumens of the neoplasm. Of note, these crystals were seen only on the toluidine blue-stained section of Case #1, but were not present on the corresponding permanent section.

We hypothesize that polarizable crystals may be present in sweat gland neoplasms more often than previously documented, but that they may often dissolve with routine processing, accounting for their rare visibility. We highlight this rare finding, and suggest that it may be underreported. We only noted this finding in benign apocrine tumors; further investigation would be necessary to determine whether these crystals are also seen in other cutaneous adnexal neoplasms.

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