Vulvar hidradenoma papilliferum (HP) is located on the sites of mammary-like anogenital glands (MLAGs): Analysis of the photographs of 52 tumors.

Abstract

Hidradenoma papilliferum (HP) is a benign tumor that primarily affects the anogenital area of adult women. Previously considered apocrine tumors, anogenital HP tumors are now interpreted as adenomas of mammary-like anogenital glands based on their histologic features. This clinical study was undertaken to determine whether vulvar HP is located on mammary-like anogenital gland sites and to describe its morphologic features. The clinical photographs of 52 histologically confirmed vulvar HP provided by 7 vulva specialists were analyzed. In all, 90.4% of the HP were located on the interlabial sulcus, adjacent zone, or the perineum. These tumors were polymorphous in terms of number (1 or multiple), size (<1-4.5 cm), color (pink, red, blue), surface (ulcerated or not), and architecture (unilobular or multilobular). Eight histologic reports could not be reviewed by the authors but the contributors confirmed that the photographs sent were only those of histologically confirmed HPs. Vulvar HP is mainly located on mammary-like anogenital gland sites, thereby providing further evidence to their histogenesis. Although a nonulcerated or ulcerated tumor of the interlabial sulcus should evoke a HP diagnosis, the latter must be confirmed histologically.