Language

English

Publication Date

6-1-2025

Journal

Cureus

DOI

10.7759/cureus.85480

PMID

40621228

PMCID

PMC12229728

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

6-6-2025

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Abstract

Nodular hidradenoma (NH) is a benign adnexal tumor demonstrating both eccrine and apocrine differentiation. NH generally presents as a slow-growing, solitary, firm nodule, most commonly measuring 0.5-2 cm in diameter. It most frequently occurs on the scalp, thorax, abdomen, and gluteal regions, with a predilection for adult women in their fourth to eighth decades of life. We report the case of a 41-year-old immunocompetent female who presented with a red, 3.6 × 2.5 cm nodule on the left thigh. Due to the cystic nature of the lesion, it was initially presumed to be a benign cyst. However, as the lesion continued to grow slowly, a biopsy was performed, confirming the diagnosis of NH. Although malignant transformation is rare, it has been shown to follow an aggressive course with widely disseminated disease. Additionally, in some cases, it can be difficult to differentiate between NH and hidradenocarcinoma (HAC). Therefore, Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) was performed to successfully remove the lesion with complete margin assessment. Currently, wide local excision (WLE) is the most common form of treatment. However, given the potential for malignancy and recurrence, we propose MMS as an alternative definitive treatment for NH, especially for tumors located in areas that would benefit from a skin-sparing surgical technique. This is among the few reported cases of NH affecting the thigh, highlighting the diagnostic challenges and the importance of considering NH in the differential diagnosis of atypical cutaneous nodules.

Keywords

acrospiroma, adnexal neoplasm, adnexal tumor, hidradenoma, mohs micrographic surgery, nodular hidradenoma

Published Open-Access

yes

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.