Cytomorphology of Chondroid Syringoma: Analysis of 20 Cases and Review of Literature

Abstract

Background: Chondroid syringomas [CS] are interesting skin adnexal tumours. They have a remarkable pleomorphic-adenoma like morphology in the skin. Though the histopathology of the tumour has been described in detail in literature, cytomorphological studies are restricted to case reports and small case series. For diagnosing a CS on cytology, the index of suspicion must be high, clinical evaluation must be thorough and knowledge of variant existing morphologies is essential.Aim: This study was done with the aim of studying the common and variant cytological features of chondroid syringomas. Methods:This was a retrospective study conducted over a four-year period in the Department of Pathology, VMMC and Safdarjung hospital. Fine needle aspirate smears and biopsy slides were studied. Morphological details were independently reviewed in detail by two pathologists (Dr MS and Dr MA). Result and Conclusion:The conventional biphasic cell morphology of CS was seen in nearly 50% cases. Rest of the cases showed predominance of one or more variant features in few areas and thus CS was only one of the differential diagnosis in these cases. Nevertheless, FNA proved to be fast, inexpensive and a reliable method for diagnosis of chondroid syringoma.The study will be relevant and helpful in the day to day cytological reporting of CS.

Case of eccrine chondroid syringoma of the upper lip

“…The apocrine type presents with variation in their epithelial, myoepithelial and stromal components and has tubular and cystic branching lumina that are lined by a double layer of epithelial cells. The presence of follicular and sebaceous differentiation may also support the apocrine nature of CS, as the folliculosebaceous-apocrine unit shares embryological origins 5…”

“…Unlike the apocrine counterpart, they do not show apocrine secretion or signs of folliculosebaceous-apocrine differentiation. Solid epithelial aggregates may be observed 5…”