SA and SAC tumors have been confused with leiomyoma, angiolipoma, granular cell tumor, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, metastatic adenocarcinoma, and adenoid cystic carcinoma tumors; the giant vascular SA form of these tumors has been mistaken for a hemangioma, angiolipoma, calcifying epithelioma, neuroma, malignant melanoma, angiosarcoma, vascular malformation, and venous thrombosis. CT scans, FDG-positron emission tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging to detect 1) the shape and local invasiveness of these tumors and 2) the presence of metastases and 2) the clinical presentation of individuals of these tumors often suggest the correct diagnosis. However, definitive separation of SA, SAC, and giant vascular SA from the just cited lesions requires histopathological examinations. The diagnosis of SA versus SAC tumors is often suggested by their clinical presentations, e.g. rapid enlargement or onset of pain in a long-standing SA tumor strongly suggests that it has become a SAC. Findings that a known SA or undiagnosed tumor has areas of SA histology transitioning to SAC histology (see above Pathology section) is virtually diagnostic for SAC. The sporadic SA and SAC tumors reviewed here must also be distinguished from the very similar appearing SA-like and SAC-like tumors in individuals afflicted with the CYLD cutaneous syndrome. CCS is a familial disease uniformly associated with the inheritance of inactivating mutations in the CYLD gene. Individuals with CCS commonly develop an increasingly large number of skin tumors, including SA and SAC, over time. Usually, these individuals are readily distinguished from sporadic SA and SAC by their family history of the disease and the presence of large numbers of tumors. The rare cases of CCS that present with one or a few tumors are distinguished form CCS by testing for the CYLD gene: all individuals with CCS carry a mutated CYLD gene in their tumor as well as other tissues such as blood leucocytes while individuals with sporadic SA or SAC carry the mutated CYLD gene in their tumor but not other tissues (see Genetics of CCS). It is important to afford individuals with CCS and the close family members of these individuals access to in depth genetic counselling.
Spiradenoma
Dentigerous cyst
Hidrocystoma
Syringoma
Ganglion cyst
Paradental cyst
Mantleoma
Acrospiroma