Superficial epithelioma with sebaceous differentiation involving the eyelid: a case report

In 1980, superficial epithelioma with sebaceous differentiation (SESD) was first described by Rothko et al. as a distinct, rare and benign neoplasm that falls into the larger group of basaloid tumors showing sebaceous differentiation [1]. In their study, SESD affected multiple body areas of a 48-year-old man. The characteristic histological features of these lesions included superficial plate-like proliferation of basaloid cells in the upper dermis with well-defined borders and broad attachments to the overlying epidermis. Keratin-filled cysts and sebocytes of varying maturity in the form of clusters, lobules or single cells are present in some lesions [1‐3]. Pigmentation of basal keratinocytes and a host response of superficial infiltrates of lymphocytes was mentioned by subsequent case reports and case series, in addition to the previously described histopathological features [3].

A 46-year-old man of Italian descent, with a known history of testicular seminoma that was treated surgically with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, presented to the clinic with a tan-colored, painless papular lesion measuring 4mm in diameter in his right upper lid that grew gradually over 10 months; it was clinically diagnosed as papilloma and an excisional biopsy was performed. He provided no family history of similar eyelid lesions. On histological examination, the lesion was a well-circumscribed and sharply demarcated epithelial tumor, characterized by keratin-filled cysts and superficial basaloid cells with a sheet-like spread in the upper dermis and broad attachments to the overlying epidermis. Aggregates of mature sebaceous cells forming clusters and lobules were arranged replacing basaloid cells in the lower part of the tumor. Furthermore, foci of ductal differentiation were seen, but no mitoses were observed. On immunohistochemical examination, DNA mismatch repair proteins MSH2 and MLH1 were positively expressed in the tumor cells (Figure 1). After a follow-up period of 5 months, no recurrence of the lesion has been documented.

SESD is a rare and benign neoplasm that can affect different body areas [1‐9], first described by Rothko et al. in 1980 as six cutaneous tumors affecting multiple body areas of a 48-year-old man without any systemic disease or family history [1]. Subsequent case reports and series show that it favors the head, face and trunk of middle-to-old-age individuals regardless of sex [1‐10]. On clinical examination, these lesions can grow as rapidly as a few months or slowly over 1 to 3 years and may present as nonspecific papules, nodules or plaques of varying sizes, consistency and color [2, 3, 5]. This broad clinical presentation gives wide differential diagnoses ranging from totally benign lesions, such as sebaceous hyperplasia and seborrheic keratosis, to highly malignant lesions, such as sebaceous carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma [3]. The histopathological features of the lesion also give rise to wide differential diagnoses, mainly that of sebaceous differentiation including, but not limited to, seborrheic keratosis with sebaceous differentiation (SKSD), sebaceous hyperplasia, sebaceous adenoma, sebaceoma, sebaceous carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma with sebaceous differentiation (Table 1) [2]. SESD can be very difficult to distinguish from SKSD histopathologically. However, the presence of squamous like cells arranged in whorls (squamous eddies) that are occasionally found around wide infundibular spaces filled with corneocytes (pseudohorn cysts) is more common in SKSD [3, 4, 11]. Basal cell carcinoma with sebaceous differentiation usually presents with an aggressive behavior and tend to arrange in a lobular pattern rather than the plate-like configuration in SESD [4]. To the best of our knowledge, ocular involvement of SESD has been reported twice in the literature as eyelid lesions in two patients (Table 2) [2, 5].

Currently, the literature is full of different terms describing tumors with foci of sebaceous differentiation. The difficulty in diagnosing these lesions has led to the use of inappropriate terms and, as a consequence, cases of SESD are underdiagnosed cases. Reticulated acanthoma with sebaceous differentiation, SKSD, acanthomatous superficial sebaceous hamartoma, sebocrine adenoma, sebomatricoma and poroma with sebaceous differentiation are all names for SESD in the literature. Despite the different nomenclature, the unifying architecture of different cases of SESD, specifically the broad plate-like outgrowth, favors SESD as the correct description [3, 10, 12]. In addition, different immunohistochemical studies can differentiate this tumor from others [2, 3, 10].

Different reports show a lack of association between SESD and Muir–Torre syndrome (MTS) [1‐3, 5, 12, 13]. Although our patient had orchiectomy for a testicular seminoma, the expression of mismatch repair proteins MLH1 and MSH2 was positive, which excludes any microsatellite instability and supports the lack of an association with MTS.

The histogenesis of the tumor is not yet known. Friedman et al. [5] speculated that it originates from the pilosebaceous unit. This speculation is supported by Kawachi et al. [10] and their immunohistochemical studies, in which they discovered its differentiation toward the sebofollicular epithelium. On the basis of the immaturity of the sebaceous cells in the lesion and the negative staining for epithelial membrane antigen and carbonic anhydrase-2, Kato and Ueno [2] suspected the epidermal pluripotential cells as the origin of SESD and not the pilosebaceous unit.

SESD is part of the differential diagnoses of eyelid lesions. The difficulty in diagnosing SESD and the arguments in the literature about classifying SESD as a separate entity or as part of other lesions with sebaceous differentiation has resulted in underdiagnosed or mistermed cases. The benign histological features and the lack of recurrence support its benign nature. Although no clear association has linked SESD with MTS, further clinical correlation and close follow up for patients are recommended.

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.