Abstract
The aims of this work is to determine the spectrum of histopathological patterns of Adnexal tumors of skin, to characterise the tumors histologically according to World Health Organization (WHO) classification system for skin adnexal tumors and to analyse the tumor with regard to behaviour, anatomic location and sex of the patient. The study was conducted retrospectively at the department of Pathology; in a Tertiary care Hospital in South India. Study duration was 3 years from June 2009 to June 2012. All the Adnexal tumors received during this period were collected and Hematoxylin and Eosin and slides of special stains of the same were reviewed and lesion were characterised according to WHO classification system for Skin Adnexal Tumors. 40 cases of Adnexal tumors were diagnosed during the study period. 36 cases (90%) were benign, while 4 cases (10%) were malignant. Tumors were observed more commonly in females with M: F ratio of 1.5:2. Most tumors were localized to head and neck region (62.5%), followed by trunk and upper limb (27.5%), abdomen and lower limb (7.5%) and labia majora (2.5%). Most common tumors were Eccrine tumors 18 cases (45%), followed by 12cases (30%) of Pilar tumors, 7 cases (17.5%) of Apocrine tumors and least common being tumors with sebaceous differentiation 3 cases (7.5%). Practically adnexal tumors of Skin have been historically classified into 4 groups. However, in some cases, the diagnosis of Adnexal neoplasm presents unique difficulties. Although most of these tumors are benign, it is important to diagnose them accurately, if incompletely excised can recur and evaluation of margins is recommended.

Key words: Adnexal tumors, eccrine tumors, pilar tumor, apocrine tumor, sebaceous tumor