Abstract

A case of apocrine adenocarcinoma is reported. The patient was a 81-year old man who had an asymptomic tumor for three years in his right axillary cavity. From the histopathological and enzyme histochemical examination of the tumor, we diagnosed this tumor as apocrine adenocarcinoma. The following points were distinct for the case; (1) Its clinical course and the location of lesion were typical. (2) Histologically, decapitation secretion was found evidently in the tumor cells that were arranging in adenoid pattern. (3) The cytoplasma of the tumor cells contained PAS-positive, diastase-resistant granules. (4) The tumor cells show strong activity of apocrine enzymes, such as acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase.