Papillary Eccrine Adenoma
Senait W. Dyson, MD
Key Facts
Terminology
Rare benign adnexal tumor with eccrine differentiation
Most authorities separate PEAs from tubular apocrine adenomas
Clinical Issues
Presentation: Firm or hard nodules
Site: Distal extremity
Prognosis: Excellent
Microscopic Pathology
Circumscribed, symmetrical dermal tumor with rare connections to epidermis
Dilated glandular structures of various sizes
Ducts lined by ≥ 2 layers of cuboidal cells
Top Differential Diagnoses
Tubular apocrine adenoma
Aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma
Metastatic adenocarcinoma
 Low-power examination shows a dermal adnexal tumor with variably sized ductal and glandular spaces associated with a fibrous stroma. |
 On high magnification, the glands show low-cuboidal eccrine cells  and areas with cribriforming and papillary projection of variable complexity  . (Courtesy J. McNiff, MD.) |
TERMINOLOGY
Abbreviations
Papillary eccrine adenoma (PEA)
Synonyms
Tubulopapillary hidradenoma with eccrine differentiation
Definitions
Rare benign adnexal tumor with evidence of eccrine derivation/differentiation
In the past, many cases with apocrine features were included in this category
However, most authorities now separate PEAs from tubular apocrine adenomas
CLINICAL ISSUES
Epidemiology
