Apocrine Gland Organic Hamartoma (Apocrine Nevus)

• A patient had two fleshy, nontender masses, each partially filling an axillary vault. These tumors arose at puberty in normal-appearing axillae. The masses were accompanied by localized hyperhidrosis. Histopathological examination of the lesions showed that the reticular layer of the dermis had been replaced solely by lobular masses of unencapsulated, mature apocrine elements. These very rare tumors are best classified as apocrine gland organic hamartomas, or apocrine nevi. To our knowledge, such a case has never been reported or photographed. ( Arch Dermatol 112:520-522, 1976)