Sebaceous Gland Carcinoma

What is Sebaceous Gland Carcinoma?

Sebaceous gland carcinoma is a very rare type of skin cancer. The sebaceous glands are the glands that produce our natural skin oils. Sebaceous glands are found all over our bodies so this type of cancer can be diagnosed just about anywhere. Generally, they appear as a firm, painless lump and can be yellowish in colour.

The most common site is the upper eyelid and 3 out of 4 of these cancers are diagnosed around the eye. The remainder can be elsewhere on the head or neck, on the trunk, or in the genital area. It's more common in elderly people, but sebaceous gland cancer is sometimes found in younger people who have previously had radiotherapy to the face.

What are the symptoms of Sebaceous Gland Carcinoma?

Often discovered on the eyelid, sebaceous gland carcinoma can present itself as a firm, painless, slow-growing yellowish bump. It’s frequently mistaken for a stye, chalazion or pink eye, but it does not improve with standard treatments for those conditions. Growth could also look like a pimple, or it could bleed or ooze.

Additional symptoms can include:

• A sore on the eyelid that reoccurs or fails to heal
• Yellow or reddish crust along the lash line
• Thickening of the eyelid along the lash line
• Loss of eyelashes

As sebaceous carcinoma spreads, additional growths may appear, and eyesight can be affected.

Elsewhere on the body, sebaceous carcinoma frequently appears on the head or neck, but it has also been found in the ear canal and on the chest, back, abdomen, buttocks, breasts and genitals. There, it can appear as a slow-growing, yellowish or pink bump that may bleed.

Schedule an appointment with your dermatologist if you’ve had any of the above symptoms for more than two weeks.

Who is at risk for sebaceous gland carcinoma?

Although sebaceous carcinoma can affect all ages and has been seen in children as young as three, people diagnosed with this form of skin cancer are most often between 60 and 80 years of age. It’s also more commonly found in women.

Additional risk factors include:

• Unprotected sun exposure
• Radiation therapy to the head or neck, especially radiation treatments for retinoblastoma
• A weakened immune system, which can be caused by medical conditions such as cancer or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Medication to prevent the body from rejecting an organ transplant or some medications used to treat conditions such as psoriasis or arthritis
• Muir-Torre syndrome

What is the treatment for sebaceous gland carcinoma?

These cancers are often slow-growing. They only spread to another part of the body in 1 out of every 5 cases. Treatment is surgery. As this is rare cancer, treatment should be carried out at a specialist skin cancer centre by a team including a skin specialist (dermatologist), a plastic surgeon and a cancer specialist (clinical oncologist).

It's important for the surgeon to take away every bit of cancer, and it's usual to remove a border of healthy tissue from around the tumour. This reduces the risk of cancer coming back.

It might not be possible for the surgeon to tell the extent of cancer before surgery. Sometimes these cancers have several centres and more tissue might have to be removed than expected. You might want to talk this over with your surgeon before your operation. 

Radiotherapy is sometimes used instead of surgery, or as an extra treat after the operation. After treatment, you'll need to see your specialist regularly for a few years. The specialist will examine you for signs of cancer coming back, either in the skin or the lymph nodes.

How to prevent Sebaceous gland carcinoma?

To help prevent sebaceous carcinoma, protect your skin from sun exposure.

• Use a broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15+ daily.
• Use a water-resistant broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30+ during extended outdoor activity.
• Limit your time outdoors between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
• Cover up with a broad-brimmed hat, UV-blocking sunglasses, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt when outside.
• Avoid tanning booths.

It’s also important to examine your skin, head-to-toe, every month and to see your dermatologist every year for an annual skin examination.

NEXT STEP

Before you agree to the test or the procedure make sure you know:

• The name of the test or procedure
• The reason you are having the test or procedure
• What results to expect and what they mean
• The risks and benefits of the test or procedure
• What the possible side effects or complications are
• When and where you are to have the test or procedure
• Who will do the test or procedure and what that person’s qualifications are
• What would happen if you did not have the test or procedure
• Any alternative tests or procedures to think about
• When and how will you get the results
• Who to call after the test or procedure if you have questions or problems
• How much will you have to pay for the test or procedure