Metastatic sweat gland carcinoma successfully treated with thermoradiation therapy.

A 73-year-old female presented with a small ulcerated nodule on her left heel. It was excised with a margin of 10mm and reconstructed by skin grafting. The histological diagnosis was sweat gland carcinoma. Four months after the operation, a rapidly growing subcutaneous tumor was recognized on her left leg. The biopsy specimen showed metastatic sweat gland carcinoma. A combination therapy of intravenous cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil and subcutaneous peplomycin with 30Gy of irradiation was tried, but the patient could not endure its severe side effects. Subsequently, she was treated with 30.5Gy of additional irradiation combined with hyperthermia. A great response was observed. Wide local excision and left groin dissection followed. There was no evidence of metastasis during 5 years after the therapy. [Skin Cancer (Japan) 2002; 17: 123-126]