Multiple eccrine hidrocystomas of the face

Background Multiple eccrine hidrocystomas of the face are a rare facial dermatosis for which no recent large series of cases has been reported. Objective To describe the clinicopathologic features of five cases of multiple eccrine hidrocystoma and to emphasize their similar characteristics. Methods The clinical and histologic features of five women with multiple eccrine hidrocystomas of the face are described. Results All cases were middle-aged women with numerous, asymptomatic, skin-colored to bluish, papulonodular skin lesions, ranging from 2 to 5mm in diameter, and mainly centrifacial in distribution. Histopathologically, all cases showed unilocular cysts in the dermis lined by two layers of cuboidal cells. Staining for S-100 protein was negative in the cyst wall in all cases. One case was treated with topical 1% atropine for 3 weeks with no significant improvement. No systemic side-effects were observed during this treatment. Conclusions Multiple eccrine hidrocystomas are a rare condition which might be confused clinically and histopathologically with apocrine hidrocystomas. To date, no effective treatment has been reported.