APOCRINE TUMOR (MIXED TUMOR OR CHONDROID SYRINGOMA VARIANT?) CONTAINING HYALINE CELLS
Large, round cells that have eccentric nuclei and eosinophilic or amphophilic cytoplasm are, uncommonly, a prominent part of apocrine tumors, particularly mixed tumors or chondroid syringomas. These cells vaguely resemble plasma cells, at least in the eyes of some observers. Such cells have been designated as hyaline cells when seen in this context.

The tumor cells in this case appear to be derived from a tubular component or, possibly, a myoepithelial component. One cannot make a  convincing case for the a mixed tumor in this case because of the lack of characteristic stroma. Other features such as the diversity of tubular and ductal forms, as well as the sharp demarcation of the tumor, are features that can be seen in chondroid syringomas or mixed tumors, apocrine type.


A tumor from beneath the left eye, but not involving the eyelid, of an 82 year old male:
 
Scanning power view of a shaply demarcated subcutaneous tumor. There are tubular foci, a cystic area,  and a solid component.

 
A high power view of the epithelium lining the cystic area. Apocrine differentiation is present. This area resembles that which can be seen in papillary apocrine cystadenomas.
A medium power view showing tubular differentiation. There is a small amount of glassy stroma between the tubules and/or ducts, but stroma that would be convincing for a classical chondroid syringoma or mixed tumor is not seen.
A medium power view of a 'solid' area composed of hyaline cells.
A very high power view of the cells shown above.
A high power view showing cells of the type shown above mixed with other cells lining a tubular structure as well as being present in solid clusters peripheral to the tubule. Hyaline cells are seen in the lining of this ductal structure as well as in solid clusters peripheral to the duct.

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